I had a fantastic weekend this past weekend seeing a lot of my friends and family in Houston, and seeing my little (in the traditional sense of the word) brother getting married.

But while I was in Houston, I was struck with a really distinct feeling of bittersweetness. For a large chunk of Saturday, I got to hang out in the West University part of Houston. And I got to eat at a restaurant that I hadn't eaten at for probably 20 years or so. And I got to see my old elementary school and old church. And despite the wonderful live that I have lived and live to this day, I kept asking myself "What If..."

What if things had been differently and I had gone to the same school with the same friends from Kindergarten through High School.

What if I had lived in the same house with my 3 siblings and 2 still married parents.

What if going back to Houston actually felt like home instead of the place where I spent most of my childhood...and there is a difference.

I have had a fantastic life, but sometimes I just feel really cheated out of a life that *could* have been. I have friends who had the type of life where they were born in the same house, parents are still married, they still have friends they met in Kindergarten, and they grew up in the same house with their siblings.

As for myself...

Well I learned the ins and outs of saying goodbyes in airport terminals and dividing Thanksgiving and Christmas between two families.

But these are the hands we're given and I've played mine pretty well. I have no complaints...just what ifs.