The best laid plans
For What It's Worth
The best laid plans
By MARCELLA BRUCE
Contributing writer
"The best laid plans of mice and men" can really get screwed up!
That's what happened when good friends Jim and Rita Brennan delivered me, my three bags plus a carry-on, to Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport Oct. 30. There we were greeted (?) with the information that my 5 p.m. Air Tran flight had been canceled.
To Jim's response of "Well, looks like we'll go back to Hillsboro and start over tomorrow," my reply was "No way!" The Air Tran representative quickly said I would be taken to a nearby motel overnight, my supper and breakfast would be paid, and I would be given a free round-trip ticket to use anywhere Air Tran flies.
After getting a call through to family about the change in plans and getting settled in the motel, my blood pressure simmered down considerably. A pleasant meal and a good night's rest prepared me nicely for the morning flight. Daughter Marcia and son-in-law Glenn met me at Atlanta, and the "best laid plans" worked out to be not so bad!
We spent a night with grandson Blake and his wife Viviane who had just moved into their home; then we headed for Beverly Hills (not California, but Florida!)
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Since I've been here, the Wiedersteins have hosted a visit from former neighbors who now live in Belgium. Tonny and Gerrit van der Velde are a delightful Dutch couple, and tonight she's preparing an Indonesian meal. Her background includes living in Singapore and becoming well-acquainted with that culture.
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The weather has been very mild — in the 70's and 80's with a few rain showers; sort of like the beautiful fall we've had in Kansas — but much more humid.
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The days have been busy and interesting since I arrived. The van der Veldes have left and new guests have arrived, this time from England. Allan and Anne Morgan and Glenn and Marcia met on a cruise. So we've become familiar with their "brand" of English just as we did with the van der Veldes and their Dutch accents. A great way to broaden our horizons! And fun!
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Armistice Day, which was declared a national observance following World War I, honored those who served in the military. Following World War II it was renamed Veterans' Day, but continued to be observed on the same date, November 11. This year, like many others, saw veterans selling the little red poppies to remind our populace of sacrifices made to guarantee our precious freedoms.
