My relationship with making plans is somewhat tempestuous. While I absolutely love a spontaneous invitation to do something fun, I am also a big fan of having something to look forward to. I love that anticipation of pleasure. The wondering how it will go. Yes, it is important to live in the moment…and no, I shouldn’t do so much what-iffing…but what-iffing the possibilities when you have plans with someone is part of the fun. <\/p>\n
Often things seem to fall through when I make plans with people, and I am not sure why that is. <\/p>\n
Over the long holiday weekend, I had multiple layers of plans go astray. Which left me sort of..in limbo. Which is exactly the place I least like to be. In fact, if I were a designer, Hell would consist of ironing, pulling weeds and “maybe we should do something this weekend, I’ll let you know on Friday night.” <\/p>\n
Spontaneity is great. Definite plans are even better. The maybes are a killer. <\/p>\n
You might think that all of the anticipation and what-iffing would lead to disappointment. That is only true when the plans fall through. When the planned activity happens, I am never let down. Somehow, everything is better than I expected almost every time. <\/p>\n
Why do you suppose that is?<\/p>\n
Obviously, it is because of something about me and also about the people I make plans with. <\/p>\n
Me? Since part of the what iffing includes the direst of possible outcomes, any time my plans work out I am thrilled. I mean, I was probably assuming there would be a tsunami, so when people actually end up at the beach with me it will be way better than that! Optimistic pessimism is great. <\/p>\n
Most of the credit has to go to my friends and family: the best people on the planet, and also the most fun. It is well documented in my blog. They are huggers, laughers, tongue sticker outers, drink pourers. They are story tellers, football watchers, coffee drinkers, domino players. They are caring, tolerant, compassionate, smart. They are whimsical, prone to hijinks, golf cart racers, food servers. <\/p>\n
They are, without exception, the kind of people who take care of each other and love each other. <\/p>\n
What did I ever do to deserve them? Hell if I know. I show up on time. I kiss everybody. I bring a lot of booze. I laugh at everyone’s funny stories and cry about the sad ones. Sometimes both at the same time. I post about it all here. It doesn’t really seem like a fair trade.
\nYou know what time if year it is? It’s the time if year I think about what to do on my vacation…<\/p>\n
Who wants to come along?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"