“Man plans and God laughs” is a well-known Yiddish expression.  I am a planner – I like to have everything laid out so I can be prepared.  For me, planning is half the fun of any trip or event.  This year I have certainly learned the truth of the Yiddish phrase about plans.  We are not in control, no matter how much we would like to be.

Let me tell you about some of the plans I made for 2026.  First, when Tom and I were on our long trip in 2024, we decided we would take another long trip in 2026.  We chose a three month cruise to Australia and New Zealand which left from San Diego.  We would have left at the very beginning of January and been back in April.

It didn’t take very long upon our return from our trip to realize that long trips half-way around the world just weren’t in the cards for a while.  Mom and Dad were needing more help.  We decided to limit our travel to shorter trips.  In 2025 we still volunteered in the National Parks, but we made sure we were back in Ohio at least once a month.

We went to Georgia in January, but came back to Ohio for a month in February before returning to Georgia for March.  When we worked at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, we were close enough to drive home for our days off before heading back to work.  The rangers at Cumberland Gap are wonderful, because they understand family obligations.  They worked with us when we needed more than the three days off.

Because we canceled the big trip to Australia, we decided to book a shorter Caribbean cruise for 2026 – only 10 days.  Our plans were that we would be in Ohio in January, then travel in February, and be back in Ohio until it was time to return to Cumberland Gap.  Our good friend Karen Graham was going to join us in cruising and wandering.

Those plans were derailed when Dad broke his leg on January 3.  We knew he would only have three weeks in the rehab center.  I suspected that Mom would need help in getting him home and keeping him there.  The timing was such that Tom and I didn’t feel right leaving for a cruise at the time Dad would need to go home.  How could we enjoy cruising with the uncertainty of my dad’s care?  So we canceled the cruise.

What plans am I making now?  Not many.  Everything with my dad’s care is still very much up in the air.  His surgeon told us yesterday that he doesn’t want Dad to put any weight on his broken leg for another six weeks.  Instead of beginning physical therapy toward walking again, we have six more weeks where he can’t move himself.

Although Tom and I are still planning to return to Cumberland Gap in May, our plans between now and then are more wishes than plans.  Tom and I aren’t even making dinner plans with people.  We haven’t spent much time visiting friends, which we usually do when we are in Ohio.  Instead, we are with Mom and Dad three or four days a week.  We are glad to help and thankful that we are available.  But, as all of you know who have helped care for an aging parent, it is hard.  Hardest on Mom and Dad, but also stressful on the rest of the family.

One day at a time.  Right now I am doing my best not to look too far ahead.  I may get blog posts written, I may not.  I might be able to meet a friend for lunch but I might not.  There are some days I feel like a rotten friend, but my friends are very understanding and they are showing me grace.

Man plans.  God laughs.  And we each do our best every day.