I wonder…

I wonder…

When you’re sitting in a doctor’s waiting room or at an auto service provider waiting to be seen or for a service to be performed, sometimes your mind wanders, especially if you forgot to bring a book and are disinterested in whatever they have blasting on their TV. The longer the wait, the more things you come up with to think about. You fall into a trance, a dream-like state. Your thoughts create scenarios with infinite possibilities. Some raise questions, and others imagine impossibilities coming to fruition. Like what I’m writing right now… 

I wonder what would happen if…

… there were no political parties, and just one called the human race.

… those who look down on people with disabilities would get to experience those disabilities for a period of time?

… gender, race, age, and religious equality were not words in any language because they were the norm rather than needing to be asked for.

… subscription costs for things like newspapers, TV, Internet, and phone services were divided equally among all customers rather than making some pay more, so discounts could be given to new enrollees. 

… we could travel anywhere in the world we wanted instantaneously.

… people would listen to reason rather than rhetoric and unsubstantiated misinformation.

… we all cared for each other rather than only ourselves.

… the only disease we had to prevent and protect ourselves from was ignorance.

… animals could communicate with us.

… there was life on other planets, and we could learn from each other and coexist.

… vehicles focused more on conserving energy and being more efficient rather than being built for speeds that should never be reached.

… we actually did what was necessary to mitigate climate change and environmental destruction in our lifetimes.

… filling out forms, like tax and financial applications for loans, was a simple process.

… we didn’t have to pay that extra 3.5% on goods and services if we used a credit card. 

… the Mets and Islanders would actually win the World Series and Stanley Cup. 

Someone appears to be talking to me. 

“Excuse me, what did you just say? The doctor can’t see me now because he’s waiting to get his car back from the dealer who has him on hold, and I have to reschedule, as your office hours have ended.” 

“Yes, sir.”

“And you will reschedule me?”

“Well, sir, since our office hours are over, you’ll have to call back tomorrow; our office hours are from 9 – 5 every day, except for tomorrow…and the next day… and…, or you can reschedule on our website, provided it’s not overloaded with users trying to schedule.”

“I’ll think about it,” was my reply as I got up to leave. 

It’s a wonder that any of us get anywhere in this world.