Well as they say, the best laid plans…what is it that they say? It’s funny the things you think are so important until something really important comes along. Yesterday, my children’s aunt who was just 52 on August 8, took a turn for the worse and is not expected to live to see the weekend. All plans are off and there is a lot of scrambling this morning to get her brother and my ex to Florida in order to see her before she leaves us. He and I continue to be very good friends so he stayed here last night because I’m closer to the airport and can give him the 5 am lift to Logan that he needed. The kids and I sat here last night with him for a long time talking and trying to take his mind off where he was about to go and what he will need to do over the next few days. He and I spent some time talking about how quickly life has gone by. We know each other for almost 30 years and it’s gone by in a blink. I can’t even begin to fathom knowing I had hours or at the most days left, as his sister does right now. She was at work, going food shopping, and I’m sure craving some time alone as I was recently, just a few weeks ago, completely unaware of how this summer would end.

So, with a very heavy heart, instead of packing for my get away I am counting my blessings.  First that my heart continues to beat, and it seems it will for some time. Secondly, for all the people that won’t give me second to myself and can’t find the ketchup or the date or their own shoes without me.  Also, for the fact that although disappointed I have wonderful people looking forward to seeing me whenever I manage to see them. I’m not going to make them wait too long.

I think I may just spend this weekend counting my blessings and leave the plans to a higher power.  Enjoy the weekend, my friends.

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men,

Gang aft agley,

An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,

For promis’d joy!

(The best laid schemes of Mice and Men

oft go awry,

And leave us nothing but grief and pain,

For promised joy!)

Robert Burns, To a Mouse (Poem, November, 1785)