Re: With "ifs"...
..one can put Paris in a bottle (avec des si on peut mette Paris en bouteille).
Life is full of chaotic events, some happy some sad.
It's part of life and has nothing to do with fate. However, it's one of those things few accept. It's just a matter of coincidence, chance, statistical probability. Of course, when one is directly involved in this, it's hard to admit and easier (or more conforting) to invoke fate but I'm not sure it's the right thing to do.
Raoul