If I'd gotten the job I wanted at Montgomery Ward, I suppose I would never have left Illinois.I've often wondered at how lives are shaped by what seem like small and inconsequential events, how an apparently random turn in the road can lead you a long way from where you intended to go--and a long way from wherever you expected to go. For me, the first of these turns occurred in the summer of 1932, in the abyss of the Depression.

Summary

This quote reflects on the profound impact that seemingly insignificant events can have on the course of one's life. The speaker acknowledges that if they had been able to secure their desired job at Montgomery Ward, they would have likely stayed in Illinois and never ventured elsewhere. The quote raises the contemplation of how unplanned occurrences and chance encounters can lead individuals on unexpected paths, far beyond their initial intentions and expectations. In this particular case, a turning point came during the Great Depression, where circumstances ultimately shaped the speaker's future.