LIFE HAPPENS

"Life is what happens to us when we are busy making other plans."

This quote is often attributed to John Lennon, although there are documented instances of this adage being used well before Lennon's time. Like many sayings, it probably originated who-knows-where by who-knows-whom, way back who-knows-when, and has just been passed down through common usage for decades.

We've had a particularly hectic several weeks here at Kendallville. Although I am normally a house mouse, I have been on more road trips in the past three weeks than I normally have in a year. Between road trips, we crammed in a school field trip, a bake sale, eye exams, birthday parties, a fraternal meeting, a piano audition, and a wedding. Among other things.

A week ago today - on Monday - I sat down at the kitchen table with my youngest, eager to begin a calm, quiet, "normal" day of school, writing, and household chores. All at home.

We had no road trip planned. No errands to run in town. No events on the calendar. Just school and laundry and left-overs for supper. I was so excited about the day - and the week - ahead. It was going to be awesome.

Then life happened.

We did not get all of our school work done that day. I did not get caught up on the laundry. I did not get an article submitted for my weekly newspaper column, nor did I work here at the blog.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday...the entire week just kind of exploded into craziness.

I accomplished very few of the things I actually planned to do last week. I did a lot of fun, unexpected, exhausting, important, other things instead.

There was a day not so long ago when having my plans so repeatedly interrupted by life would have caused me a great deal of distress. I guess I've mellowed a little over the years.

This morning, we kicked off a new work week. Nothing on the calendar today - no road trip, no dental appointments, no 4-H meetings or music lessons. Just school and laundry and left-overs for supper.

We have finished math, chemistry, and history lessons for the day. The last load of laundry is in the dryer, and all the downstairs floors have been mopped. I have checked off almost every item on one of the half-dozen green sticky-note lists that decorate my work area, and the day is not over yet. It has been awesome.

When it goes according to plan, or when the plans fly out the window, life happens. Either way, I hope I endeavor to enjoy life and make the most of it.