I’ve been waiting for this weekend for a long time. I was so excited for my brother to arrive. I pictured us catching up, laughing, going places, doing all the little things I’d been saving for “when he’s here.” I had yesterday and today mapped out like a mini celebration of us.
Everything lined up just right, including the weather. You know that feeling when you can almost see how everything will unfold? Well, my brother stepped off the plane sick, and just like that—that feeling and my carefully curated weekend disappeared.
At first, I felt frustrated, even a little robbed. That punch-in-the-gut disappointment when reality doesn’t match the picture you’ve been holding onto for so long. Excitement flipped into feeling defeated in a heartbeat.
Yet, I couldn’t help laughing at the situation a little. I always find ironic how fickle our plans are. We fill them with expectations, map out every little detail, and then with one twist of fate everything changes.
As Robert Burns put it centuries ago, “the best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.” He learned that lesson on his farm, after plowing straight through a poor mouse’s nest. The mouse lost its home, and Burns, feeling awful about it, wrote a poem about how even the best-laid plans of mice and men can go sideways in a heartbeat.
From mice to men, the truth holds: plans don’t always play along. Maybe that’s just life’s way of keeping us on our toes.
I had no choice but to let go of my plans and let the weekend unfold in its own way. Instead of being out and about, we stayed indoors having long talks over chicken soup and Theraflu. Nothing glamorous or Instagram-worthy.
By the end of the day, I realized: the best-laid plans may go awry, but the moments that matter—love, connection, and care—remain unshaken.
Hi Ella! Another insightful blog post. 🙂 So sorry to hear about your plans being dashed, but what a great silver lining to an otherwise gray cloud! Having a chance to slow down, catch up with a loved one, and truly genuinely deeply reconnect! Over hot chicken soup, no less! Your mention of Instagram-worthy images reminded me of that famous quote from the combat photographer (and founder of Magnum Photo) Robert Capa: “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” Your story certainly brings the reader emotionally close to the picture. Looks like a pretty good picture to me!
Thank you, Bill! You’re right about the silver lining… and that quote is such a keeper!