The Best Laid Plans

In a poem by Robert Burns is the line "The best laid [plans] of mice and men, often go awry".

Three years ago my nephew Allen and I began planning a cruise to Alaska, we booked a year and a half in advance and just about every time we talked the cruise would come up and both of us would mention how excited we were.

Life happens however and plans went awry, though not for negative reasons.

Allen has had a job for a couple years that was not a good fit as he was completely over qualified.  The unfortunate thing with the job market being the way it is (and living in a small town) there was not any options for him.

To make a long story short, he got an incredible job a week ago in the Chicago area and is very happy.  It is an incredible blessing for him and the entire family is very happy.

Downside: Allen is unable to go on our cruise.


Not to make this all about me....but....well this is my blog so I can :-)

I have been very stressed for the past week while Allen was trying to figure out if he could go.  I am a planner, I do not do well just going with the flow.  I wish I was but I am not, pretty sure I inherited that trait from my dad.

All week I begged my sister Keena to go with me if Allen could not make it.  She was very hesitant to go but finally seeing how stressed I was she agreed to go if he could not.

**That is not at all how it went, here is the real story**

Me: Allen may not be able to go on the cruise anymore.
Keena:  I'll go!

Plans still need to be worked out but at least I now know who will be my travel companion*.  I do feel bad that those on the ship will miss the opportunity of the dynamic duo that is Allen and Krystal but the duo of Keena and Krystal is also awesome.

The wonderful news is there is no problem changing the reservation to Keena's name and Southwest Airlines will not charge me to change my flight.  I am very excited to go as I have never been on a cruise or been to Alaska before.  Let the countdown begin!

*Fun fact about me and Keena.  Several years ago when we started taking road trips together we decided that we were co-captains and all decisions would be make together.  Shortly after that decision came the decision that Keena was senior co-captain and she had the power to veto any decision I made.  It was a very funny conversation--wish you could have been there, you would have found it HILARIOUS. However I have made it clear to Keena that this time I am the senior co-captain.  I may soon find myself drunk with power.

Cruise Countdown:  32 days to go!