By Dorothy Rosby
Today’s topic is regret. And yes, I realize that doesn’t sound like a typical topic for what is allegedly a humor column. But I’m experiencing regret right now and writing is good therapy. Besides, I have a column due and no other idea for it.
Here’s what happened. On April 7, I flew back from Dayton, Ohio where I’d been attending the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop. The workshop was as wonderful as you’d expect. If you can’t have fun at a humor writers convention you’re just not trying.
But my enjoyment was spoiled somewhat by the knowledge that I was leaving Dayton the day before the solar eclipse. And Dayton was a perfect location to see it in totality. I’m often a day late and a dollar short. This time I was a day early. I was still a dollar short though.
I would have stayed an extra day, but this was one of those rare occasions when I’d been efficient. I’d made my reservations long before the eclipse was all the talk, at least in my world. Believe me, I won’t be so efficient again.
A better travel agent than I am could have changed my hotel and airline reservations to stay an extra day but that proved too much for me. Dayton was overrun with excited people coming to see the eclipse. Some of them probably moved into my hotel room shortly after I left it. I hope they waited for maid service.
I take some comfort in the fact that even if I didn’t see the eclipse, I still get a column out of it. And there will be another eclipse in twenty years. I’ll put it on my calendar as soon as I have one for 2044.
For now I’m adding “missing total eclipse by one day” to my long list of regrets. It’s right up there with letting the tow truck driver leave before my stalled car was running, winning $700 but not being present to claim it and only noticing I’d left my briefcase on the hood of my car as it slid off into the storm sewer.
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