It's funny to realize our luck in so many ways. I was just sending a friend a message. She'd commented on missing out on a trip to South America. Here's part of my reply.

"It's funny about missing out on the chances of lifetimes. My grandfather had the chance to go to Mongolia with Roy Chapman Andrews in search of dinosaur fossils. He stayed home and met my grandmother instead. If he'd gone none of the Burnhams you know would be here."

On that expedition Andrews found the first dinosaur eggs. It was a momentous occasion. And my grandfather decided not to go. Because of that decision, and probably hundreds more, my father was around to meet my mother.