The Fallacy of the Unplanned

    There is no way to know if we can do justice to a subject unless we try. That said, I am going to do my best to put down how my mind is working this morning, although "working" may not be the right word.

   Stick with me on this..

   My sweet Wife and I have an understanding. We agree that gifts are not the reason for any celebration. 

   Gifts are given because we want to celebrate the person, along with the significant occasion that is meaningful. Significant occasions are Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries and any other time that we feel like it

   Gifts can be expensive, cheap, or free. 

   Gifts can be full of meaning or laughter.

   Gifts can be anything except an obligation.

   OK, last Thursday, March 16, 2023 was my wife's birthday, a significant occasion for sure.

   What to do? 

   I had no specific plans or gifts in mind. 

   Fortunately plans were being made that would make this special day a success.

      A. I got an email from Publix. We had put our phone number on a list that would make us eligible for discounts and other items. If I would go to our nearby store, the email stated, we would receive a gift. 

   A bouquet of fresh flowers, and all I had to do was pay the sales tax, the flowers were free. Cost me $.21. Some person at Publix, or their advertising agency had come up with this plan, and I was the recipient, plus it was right on time.

      B. Thursday is the day that we volunteer to man an information desk at the BX. We needed a prescription for Carolyn, which, coincidently was at Publix, so I could pick up my gift and the meds after our volunteer stint. What timing!

      While we were "working" one of our supervisors appeared at our desk with food, two Chick Fil A boxes, complete with chicken sandwich, chips and even a chocolate chip cookie.  Supper furnished by some organization, meeting at the BX, who ended up with extra meals. Again, great timing.

      C. The Day of Unplanned Events was not finished. 

      A chocolate chip cookie pie, which was this Day's dinner dessert, delivered to our front porch by our Fed Ex man, but which did not arrive at the table whole. 

   Thanks Becky! We couldn't wait.

   Now, I probably should go back and change the title of this little piece. It was indeed a Plan, just not mine.

   How many items, or situations, or people show up unannounced by any plan of ours. 

   It is definitely beneficial for us that we are not in charge

A Very Unusual Winter

    Back in December, we had single digit cold temps. The thermometer hovered around the 5 degree mark for several hours, and we had several nights like this. Shucks, we even had a frozen water pipe.

   Fast forward to February, 2023, we had a day in the 80s, and another day like this in early March. 

   The red bud tree down by the road is flush with color, and some kinds of grasses are showing a lot of green for this time of year. 

   I even got out the mower and trimmed some of the back yard. I can't remember ever doing that in February.

   We can't do much about the weather, worrying about it is not worth the time.

   Just enjoy what we are given.

   What we see outside is what we will get.