The Best Laid Plans

Determined to start a book club, I placed on an add on craiglist to recruit members. Within in hours I had positive responses, and in a matter at days I had reached my maximum of 10 members. Reluctantly, I had to turn some folks away. This was three weeks ago. I then proceeded to draft a mission statement and guidelines. Like Dr. Jordan in the first book I selected, Alias Grace, I had lofty and somewhat pompous ideals for my book club. Commercial books were banned, only extraordinary books were allowed that challenged our perception of ourselves and world around. Such and so forth. Each member was assigned a random number to determine their turn to select and lead a book discussion, and then were assigned to either of two deliberately vague themes of LIGHT or SHADE. Ooh, I was so proud of myself. I was organized and this was going to be the book club to rival all book clubs. I found the perfect venue at my friend's house, and our meeting dates were to be determined by a democratic process via -- doodle. There, there, not only was I was organized, I was also modern. I was even contemplating starting a blog for our book club and recording the sessions.

More than 2 weeks ago I sent out the official email about our first book, venue, date, guidelines. It was set, blast off date would be Wednesday, January 27 2011. Overtaken with excitement, worry, anxiety, I regularly sought out my partner in crime for reassurance. Tuesday I ordered a dozen cupcakes from Caroline's Cupcakery: 4 death by chocolate, 4 red velvets, 2 banana chocolate chip and 2 toasted almonds to be exact, and baked my world famous walnut cream cheese puff pastries. I was all set. But January was thinking otherwise.

Unlike last winter when we had at least 3 blizzards, we haven't had a single one this season. But then of all the days in January -- of all the days, Winter chose the day of our first club meeting ti snow like the dickens. And like the dickens it snowed. All day and all night.

I had to postpone everything. The cupcakes were supposed to be picked up yesterday, but I couldn't make it to Locust Point. So now I'm worried about the cupcakes.

Once again, my best laid plans were thwarted. I have to do a better job at anticipating disasters.

Even though the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, dreams deferred are not necessarily dreams denied.