The Best Laid Schemes . . .

with thanks to Robert Burns

I have always known this quote to be “the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley” but in looking it up today I find it says “the best laid schemes” is from the Burns original. Either way, I think you get the drift. I had a different plan for today’s posting, but things definitely “gang aft agley” when I couldn’t make technology succumb to my needs. I started out with my monthly visit to the local diner where I get two huge blueberry pancakes which last me for three Sunday breakfasts (as I shared once before, I think). I ate today’s serving with a large glass of ice water, with the intention to get my coffee later at the famous chain where I can sit for hours with my laptop and even get a free refill. My plans also included a pedicure more for the fact that I need someone else to cut my toenails these days than for the beauty aspect. Also, it was very cloudy this morning and a little cooler after some rain yesterday, so I drove quite a way to the place I had in mind. Well, it all went according to plan until my laptop kept saying that I was not connected to the internet. I knew that the shop offered wi-fi, so I wasn’t worried—until I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Then I managed to get my phone to connect, but I didn’t want to do my entire post that way. Patience still not being one of my virtues (another fact I’ve shared before), I gave up and went next door to the pedicure place—only to find out that it was closed on Sunday except for “group bookings”. Remind me to bring my gang next time. My eyesight really isn’t the greatest, but I do love driving. Meandering back roads with which I’m familiar (as well as them being relatively deserted on Sunday morning) seemed doable. And indeed I had a lovely drive, stopping at one of my favorite country markets for the lemons I needed for my daily hot water, and then remembering in time that a bridge I was going to use was closed for construction. I then had the great pleasure of being transported across the river on the Selden III car ferry celebrating 75 years of operation. Then more back road wending to arrive home after the sun appeared to make it imperative that I park the car in the driveway. No nails cut nor writing done, but a good time was had in spite of things going “agley” once again.

Now that I have been home a while and have collected myself, I caught up with other Stackers and realize that we have a lot of work to do to get the message across about the perils we all face. David Pepper is writing what he calls a novel, but it could really be the factual reporting of life in America after this upcoming election. I definitely urge you to read what he has imagined. And of course there are loads of other people sounding the clarion call, and I attempt to restack them with a Note to my readers about the urgency of the messages.

I am beginning to think that I should take some more public action, and I’ve thought about making a sign and standing at the base of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument here in New London, CT. It was dedicated on May 6, 1896, a a gift of the Lawrence family as a Civil War memorial. The name Lawrence is also attached to our local hospital, and we recently got a shout out from Gordon Ramsey who was treated there when he fell off his bicycle—thankfully while wearing a helmet. We get quite a lot of celebrities in this area with two huge casinos on opposite sides of the Thames River. But back to the monument: a local peace activist stood at the base of the column on a daily basis for many years. I’m not sure what happened to him nor what the rules are for standing holding a sign in that location. Having worked with many City employees over the years, I’ll be able to get the information I need about using the site as a political protest. More will be revealed . . .

And the final note for today has to be about the Ten Commandments. Could Louisiana get any more retrograde? I know that it was done mainly to foster outrage and lawsuits, but honestly have you watched the video where the little girl faints dead away behind the odious signing governor? My thoughts all day have been that if you want some moral and ethical teaching for young people, how about using instead the Twelve Steps of Recovery in classrooms. Even though the Steps also mention God, anonymous adherents often use the term higher power instead, and there are many groups that have adapted the language to cover those with no religious beliefs. Separation of Church and State needs a boost from all of us!