On Best-Laid Plans

English: Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) –  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And how they really do "gang aft agley". 

I had planned to post to the blog today. And before that, I'd planned to do my taxes this weekend. And before that, I'd simply planned to go to work on Friday, like millions of other ordinary working folk around the country. 

But events conspired to disrupt all that. One thing led to another and more piled on top of that until by Friday I was going to have to be the one to deal with a household crisis. It couldn't be delegated, and it couldn't be put off. More dealing ensued, and continued throughout the weekend, so that here we are, on Monday morning, without a post. 

 When we are used to making and executing plans with ease and regularity, it can be astonishing to learn how little our intentions matter to an indifferent universe. Still, I consider myself blessed that my particular circumstances could be resolved with the application of a little cash and elbow grease, and that we were able to just roll with it. Others, like Mr. Burns's little mousie, are not always so lucky.

Clients and friends had their plans disrupted, too, with family members going into hospitals around the country with problems of varying seriousness. And every day we turn on the news or pick up the paper and see how sadly things have gone south on others, promised joy turning to ashes in their mouths. My thoughts are with all of those people this week, as I pick up my plans where I left off, and resume my normal routines--which should include a real post next Monday.

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy! 

Robert Burns, To a Mouse (Poem, November, 1785)
Scottish national poet (1759 - 1796)