Changing Plans

The phone rings; it is Carol, Mary's friend in Washington state. We hope to visit them this summer on our way to Hawaii. Carol and her husband have a large home and plenty of room to put us up while I work a contract in the area.

While Mary is on the phone, I am preparing for our bike ride on one of the many trails in Sacramento California. I look for the bike rack but can't find it anywhere. "Where is the rack?" I ask.

Mary pulls the phone from her face, "In your closet, where it always is." she says.

Anything I can't find is supposedly in my closet. I take a look. It's not there.

Meanwhile Mary continues her conversation; turns out Carol's husband is taking a job out of state so they probably won't be in Washington after all. That changes everything as the whole point in working in Washington was to spend time with them, now plans are completely open creating a whole basket of options.

I interrupt Mary again, "It's not there", I say.

Mary continues her conversation keeping the phone against her face as she walks into the bedroom, steps into my closet and points to the bike rack sitting in the corner.

"How come everything is always in my closet," I protest, "no wonder I can't find anything".

While I hook the rack on the back of the car I consider some our options; we could go to Maine or Vermont this summer, returning briefly to Missouri on our way to Hawaii. Another idea is keep the plan for Washington anyway. Either way, the options are limited only by our imagination and willingness to accept the possibilities.

In one sense it felt comforting when we had our plans all set. Now our sense of adventure is once again heightened, the whole country is our playground.

I approach the bikes and squeeze on the tires. They need air. I turn around call out, "Honey, where is the air pump?"