Push-Pull

I put this in Tilted Life because well, it IS about life. What I'm looking for is some of the things that all of you never thought that you would see or do. I mean, the things that totally took you by surprise and later made you think and wonder. I'm also curious how it changed you or your thinking if at all.

For examples....

I never thought I'd actually be present during the amputation of a finger. No it wasn't mine, and it made me think how people can be so stupid at times.

I never thought I'd see my father laid up in the hospital and have semi-emergency surgery for an infection near his lungs. My family just doesn't get sick like that. I'm still evaluating this one....

I never thought I'd thwart a kidnapping. Right place, right time, and correct actions all added up to the woman being returned safely by police. Proved to me that not only am I capable of action 'under fire', but thinking fairly clearly at the same time.

I never thought I'd see, in person, how people can hold life in such incredulous disregard. All the more reason to hug my wife tight every day.

What has everyone else experienced?

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"No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me-

"Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown-

DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer-

Pearl Trade

I never thought I'd see someone putting on deoderant in public.

(possibly) more to come later.

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Our revenge will be the laughter of our children.
Give me convenience or give me death!

Grancey

I never thought I would become friends with a registered sex offender.
Would it make a difference if I said I never thought that I would find out that someone I had become friends with was a registered sex offender?

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Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

Ratman

I never thought I would work in the film industry. Never thought I would live in LA and NY (at the same time). Never thought I would join the Army. Never thought I would live in a non-English speaking country for 8+ years and counting.

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The difference between theory and reality is that in theory there is no difference.

"God made man, but he used the monkey to do it." DEVO

PonyPotato

I never really thought I'd move five states away and be absolutely fine on my own.

I never thought my dad would pass away before he turned 70. He didn't even make it to 60.

I never thought my little sister would become a heroin addict.

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"Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark."
— Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Manic_Skafe

I'm right there with you - before my father passed I never seriously considered the fact that my parents wouldn't live forever. Easily the most profound thing that's ever happened to me.

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"Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian

snowy

There are a few of these in my life, and I can't say I'm comfortable sharing them in this space, because in some cases, it's not my place to put that information out in public view.

One harmless one, though: I never thought I'd still be in school at 27.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

stevie667

I never thought i'd be begging to get an earlier mobilisation that the one my unit is roled for. - i suppose i never thought i'd be so keen to fight, or that the unit i would join has such a niche role (which i love to peices) that it would be quicker to buy myself a commerical plane ticket and buy a gun on arrival.

I never thought i'd join the military. - Big into my action men and whatnot as a kid, but grew outa that, then bam, all of a sudden i'm poncing about in camouflage shooting stuff. Rather epic turn around.

I never thought i'd get laid (ha! up yours world ) - all that worrying as a pubescent kid was for nothing, thankfully.

I never thought i'd get a tattoo. - or that they'd be so danged addictive

Not many big ones (well, there are, but not really suitable for public domain...)

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Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.

Charlatan

I never thought I would have kids, let alone two.

I never thought I would get married.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Reese

I never thought I'd live to see 18 years old. I figured I'd die in some stupid ATV accident or nut cancer or something because I just couldn't picture myself as a grown up. I probably should have at least made some kind of contingency plan because I've been pretty damn lost for the 9 years that I've been an "adult."

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“It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick” - Dave Barry

genuinegirly

Never thought I'd see a shuttle launch.
Never thought I'd travel so much.

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"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

Xerxys

I too, never thought I'd travel so much and I do not want to remain stagnant anymore.

nomcat

I never thought I'd be a winemaker, the idea seemed so ridiculously unattainable.

I never thought my wife and I would open our sexual relationship to 3rd parties.

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There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.

Plan9

I never thought I'd achieve what I have in such a short period of time and despite such significant setbacks.

Life has been real good to me for the last few years and while I may have slipped up a few times, I'm doing very well.

...

I never thought I'd be single at this age. I had planned on being married and have beautiful major appliances by now. Mmm, appliances.

When I made a Big Mistake (TM) and got married, I figured That Was It and I was ready to settle for mediocrity so that I could focus on other things.

...

When you're cynical it seems that only good things surprise you.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

Cynthetiq

I never thought I'd make it to Israel.

I never thought I would every live overseas.

I never thought I'd be married for 8 years.

I never thought I'd live in and own a property in Manhattan.

I never thought I'd give up my life of decadence and debauchery.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

forseti-6

I never thought I'd lose so many good friends to war (mostly in Iraq - some Afghanistan).

I never thought I'd be worried about money. I'm currently unemployed/under-employed and can barely make rent.

I never thought I'd miss the military. I have regrets leaving from time to time.

I never thought I'd get so fat after I left the Army.

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"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss

HannaH13

I never thought I'd be the one that people rely on.

jimmy1s269

I never thought my ex-gf, who told me she would never be so rude as to break up with a guy over the phone, would dump me over the phone.

I never thought I would be lucky enough to marry a true nymphomaniac. (too bad she grew out of it after two incredible years of it.)

I never thought I would be the clumsy friend that people don't rely on because I have managed to screw something up every time they did call on me.

World's King

I never thought I'd see a guy stick his dick in his own asshole.


Thank you internets.

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

neveragain

Never thought I'd see my father and grandfather leave this world.. never thought I would get divorced and my children be with the Ex... never thought I'd be back with my high school sweetheart... never thought I would have to struggle like I've had to opver the past yr and half....

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Believe in second chances, you never know what may come of them.

paddyjoe

I never, ever thought I would dress-up in a toilet paper wedding gown!!!

amonkie

I never thought I'd be able to survive without a car.

I never thought I'd be ABLE! to get grown men in toilet paper wedding gowns

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

little_tippler

I never thought I'd get a chance to be in a musical again...this year I wil be in two.

I never thought I'd be going on 30 and still waiting to have my first solo art show. Maybe it will come soon. Here's hoping and working hard.

I never thought I'd finish a Masters degree before I was 30.

I never thought I'd make money as a singer, or be in a band.

I never thought I'd own two cats.

I never thought I'd learn to surf.

I never thought I'd love to drive.

I never thought I'd still be childless at my age.

I never thought I'd meet so many great people online and then meet them in real life too.

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Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

redsneaker

I never thought I would have such strong ties to a few people from my childhood. I moved schools a good bit and it was hard to maintain friendships. It's truly awesome to not see/talk to someone for weeks/months/years and be able to pick back up like no time was lost.

I never thought I would be a cat person.

I never realized the panic that would set in as my parents faced near-death experiences.

I never thought I would get paid to try/review beauty products and that they would arrive, by various carriers, daily, en masse.

I never thought I would be 32, divorced, with a mortgage.

I never thought there would be regular marathons of "Snapped" on TV. For that matter, I guess I never thought there were "that" many crazy women. No, really.

Fotzlid

I never thought I'd be where I am today.

I never thought I would want to go where I'm heading.

Idyllic

I never thought I would live past 27.

I never thought I would be an older mom.

I never thought I would have a child with a birth defect, and I never thought I would see it at five months pregnant.

I never thought I would survive watching my three month old have major surgery and then again at thirteen months and many more to come.

I never thought I would forgive myself for my youth. Still iffy at times.

I never thought being molested would fuck me up so much. (Grancey)

I never thought I would talk about being molested.

I never thought I would feel so institutionalized as a stay at home mom.

I never thought I'd get old. Now I just hope I get to get older.

I never thought I would need a hysterectomy.

I never thought I would not be able to have more children.

I never thought I would be GLAD I didn't have more children, especially boys.

I never thought my husband would be worse than my two young boys.

I never thought I would be married for 10 years.

I never thought I would still like him? Most of the time.

I never thought getting older would make me feel so aged.

I never thought I'd have never thought so many things..........

Grancey

Why am I referenced here?

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Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.