Hi Becky! Glad to see you around here; hope it's okay that I added you to my flist.
And okay, you've compelled me to start working on a new chapter of this story tomorrow afternoon. Or whenever I get home. Really, thank you so much.
I'm glad you think it is a compelling topic - the idea of a do-over is certainly nothing original, but it is also something that I think is undeniably intriguing. Because while I'm sure there are people who would turn it down, I bet there are a lot more who wouldn't. For lesser reasons than Nathan's, I would imagine. Anyway, it's a really fun thing to write about, and obviously talk about, because I can't seem to shut up about this story. I can't wait to get into how Nathan's knowledge of what could happen changes things in the past. Or would it be future? See, I confuse myself!
And yay, you like the Keith stuff! He's been so fun to write in this, being the mentor/friend/uncle to Nathan, giving him love when he needs and busting his chops when he needs that. He's almost more conscience than mentor in some ways, and it'll be hard for Nathan to reconcile that to his not so close relationship when he goes back.
Heh, I could talk about the fate/free will thing forever, so you wouldn't bore me on the subject at all. It's weird to use in fiction, especially in a story like this, because it essentially has to be a mixture of both. Maybe not 'has to', but it will work best if it is. Some things can be changed, but some things will still happen - just be led up to by a different series of events. For entertainment purposes, I think there has to be that element of worry for Nathan, where he doesn't know for sure if he's really changing anything. And maybe that will be what it comes down to: is Fate stronger than Nathan's free will. Of course, I don't think his current path is his given Fate, so there's that, too. Oy, this story makes me think too much sometimes. That's so sad I get a headache from my own writing.
Anyway, I'll wrap it up. I'm just really glad you found the story, and I'm especially glad you're enjoying it! Take care!
I'm so glad that you're inspired to work on the next chapter. I hope its going well since, of course, I'm anxious to read it. :)
I, too, find the thought of do-over's intriguing and was even asked by a friend of mine a few years ago if I would do things differently if given the chance to change my "fate". This was specifically in reference to a car accident that happened several years ago and claimed the lives of my mom and younger sister. I was scheduled to be in the car with them that night, but decided not to go at the last minute. Had I gone, would that have changed the timeline just enough to not put them in the position to get hit by the other driver?
After spending too many years living with the guilt of "what ifs" and "if onlys", I finally came to terms with it by concluding that this was their fate and that mine was not to be in that car. When my friend asked me the question about getting a chance to do it all over, though, my immediate reaction was "yes, in a heartbeat". But then, I really thought about it and realized that there were important people in my life today that may not be there if not for the events of that night..people that I wasn't willing to risk giving up. Just like Nathan is contemplating the fact that his do-over may blink out of existence his mother's other children and Katie, I thought about a life that might not include my wonderful niece and nephews. Despite the fact that I do miss my mom and sister every day, I can't imagine a world without my niece and nephews, so my response to my friend was that I wouldn't take the do-over.
Now, granted, it was all theoritical for me...there was no way I was going to get the do over since this was real life..so I'm sure that made the decision easier, but I did give it a good deal of thought. What will be really intriguing about Nathan's do-over is that he'll bring back with him knowledge of the alternate future. That should prove to be both a blessing and a curse. My guess is, that without this knowledge, he would make all the same choices and end up right where he is today (so thank goodness, he'll have the knowledge because of course I would love for him to have a chance at "happily ever after" with Haley)
I guess I feel that there is some component of fate in our lives, but that ultimately, life is a series of actions and reactions. As human beings, we are given the gift of free will and with that gift, sometimes we make good choices and sometimes we make bad choices and all of those choices “bend” both our fate and the fate of those in our orbit and can push it in a different direction...or perhaps that was our fate all along? Hmm...there really is no clear-cut answer for this, is there?
Enough of my ramblings..I really am looking forward to the next chapter and, in the meantime, am catching up on your other WIP fics. I just finished catching up on "The Limit" (LOVE it!) so will be posting some feedback over there later tonight.
And okay, you've compelled me to start working on a new chapter of this story tomorrow afternoon. Or whenever I get home. Really, thank you so much.
I'm glad you think it is a compelling topic - the idea of a do-over is certainly nothing original, but it is also something that I think is undeniably intriguing. Because while I'm sure there are people who would turn it down, I bet there are a lot more who wouldn't. For lesser reasons than Nathan's, I would imagine. Anyway, it's a really fun thing to write about, and obviously talk about, because I can't seem to shut up about this story. I can't wait to get into how Nathan's knowledge of what could happen changes things in the past. Or would it be future? See, I confuse myself!
And yay, you like the Keith stuff! He's been so fun to write in this, being the mentor/friend/uncle to Nathan, giving him love when he needs and busting his chops when he needs that. He's almost more conscience than mentor in some ways, and it'll be hard for Nathan to reconcile that to his not so close relationship when he goes back.
Heh, I could talk about the fate/free will thing forever, so you wouldn't bore me on the subject at all. It's weird to use in fiction, especially in a story like this, because it essentially has to be a mixture of both. Maybe not 'has to', but it will work best if it is. Some things can be changed, but some things will still happen - just be led up to by a different series of events. For entertainment purposes, I think there has to be that element of worry for Nathan, where he doesn't know for sure if he's really changing anything. And maybe that will be what it comes down to: is Fate stronger than Nathan's free will. Of course, I don't think his current path is his given Fate, so there's that, too. Oy, this story makes me think too much sometimes. That's so sad I get a headache from my own writing.
Anyway, I'll wrap it up. I'm just really glad you found the story, and I'm especially glad you're enjoying it! Take care!
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I'm so glad that you're inspired to work on the next chapter. I hope its going well since, of course, I'm anxious to read it. :)
I, too, find the thought of do-over's intriguing and was even asked by a friend of mine a few years ago if I would do things differently if given the chance to change my "fate". This was specifically in reference to a car accident that happened several years ago and claimed the lives of my mom and younger sister. I was scheduled to be in the car with them that night, but decided not to go at the last minute. Had I gone, would that have changed the timeline just enough to not put them in the position to get hit by the other driver?
After spending too many years living with the guilt of "what ifs" and "if onlys", I finally came to terms with it by concluding that this was their fate and that mine was not to be in that car. When my friend asked me the question about getting a chance to do it all over, though, my immediate reaction was "yes, in a heartbeat". But then, I really thought about it and realized that there were important people in my life today that may not be there if not for the events of that night..people that I wasn't willing to risk giving up. Just like Nathan is contemplating the fact that his do-over may blink out of existence his mother's other children and Katie, I thought about a life that might not include my wonderful niece and nephews. Despite the fact that I do miss my mom and sister every day, I can't imagine a world without my niece and nephews, so my response to my friend was that I wouldn't take the do-over.
Now, granted, it was all theoritical for me...there was no way I was going to get the do over since this was real life..so I'm sure that made the decision easier, but I did give it a good deal of thought. What will be really intriguing about Nathan's do-over is that he'll bring back with him knowledge of the alternate future. That should prove to be both a blessing and a curse. My guess is, that without this knowledge, he would make all the same choices and end up right where he is today (so thank goodness, he'll have the knowledge because of course I would love for him to have a chance at "happily ever after" with Haley)
I guess I feel that there is some component of fate in our lives, but that ultimately, life is a series of actions and reactions. As human beings, we are given the gift of free will and with that gift, sometimes we make good choices and sometimes we make bad choices and all of those choices “bend” both our fate and the fate of those in our orbit and can push it in a different direction...or perhaps that was our fate all along? Hmm...there really is no clear-cut answer for this, is there?
Enough of my ramblings..I really am looking forward to the next chapter and, in the meantime, am catching up on your other WIP fics. I just finished catching up on "The Limit" (LOVE it!) so will be posting some feedback over there later tonight.
Have a great weekend.
Becky
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