I was a teen in the 70’s and I remember some choice phrases that we used often:

In other words, expect the unexpected and respond accordingly. Many of our days look the same. The alarms rock us awake, we hit the snooze a few times then jump into the shower. Eat a fast breakfast and rush off to work, hoping that traffic isn’t clogged up somewhere because you haven’t allowed yourself even one extra minute.

You get to work on time or not, depending on any surprises on the roads, including weather. It won’t matter one whit as long as you keep calm and safely drive where you need to go. You toss your purse into the drawer, boot your computer, and dash to the coffee machine, trying not to slosh the steaming hot liquid on the carpet or your clothing.

Four hours later it will probably be lunchtime and if you haven’t planned ahead and made a sandwich or brought leftovers you will have to go out and grab something. That’s why they call it “fast food.” Drive thru restaurants are everywhere, so you don’t even have to get out of the car to get a bite to eat. You wolf down your generic burger and cold fries and feel the heartburn start. Time to pop some Tums and get back to work.

Another four hours of work gets done and it’s time to hit rush hour traffic again and go home so you can kick off your shoes, cook dinner, clean up, do a load of laundry, watch a little television, and go to bed – only to flop from side to side trying to remember what you forgot to do today. Eventually sleep claims you, but never as quickly as you hope.

Okay, that’s the “normal” day. What about the day when your company computer has to be sent back to the repair center to have the operating system upgraded and all of a sudden your routine is out the window. They’ll have it for a day, they say. There is no loaner computer sitting around. You have no files, because the company has gone paperless. You have no company directory, because it’s part of your email software. What can you do with a day like this?

I’ll tell you what I did. I slept in an extra 30 minutes, just because I could. My husband and and I made toast and coffee (latte for me) and watched the end of a burglary caper. Still in my pajamas, I took out the trash, cleaned up the kitchen, moped the floor, dusted a little and vacuumed. My grandson popped over for a quick hair cut (buzz) and chat before he went to visit a friend. It’s not even noon! I’ve already done all sorts of stuff. What’s next? Writing! A shower. Lunch. A doctor’s appointment. A little shopping. Reading. Maybe even a nap.

There was a time when I was thrown out of my routine and it was like I didn’t know what to do with myself. What about the work? It’ll still be there, folks, I guarantee it. And tomorrow when they send my computer back it may have a hiccup or two, I’ll have to reload printer drivers and software that I’ve loaded myself (e.g. iTunes). Then I’ll get to work and get twice as much done because I had an unexpected pause in my routine.

How do you handle the unexpected? Like tangled Christmas lights? Lost luggage? Those things used to just throw me for a loop. Now, it forces me to slow down, take my time and assess the situation. It gives me opportunities for “detours”.

We’ve seen some mighty lovely country by taking the “unimproved” road, or detouring from the highway onto a less followed path. Winding through tiny towns and fields of cattle or grain. Seeing the hawks swoop down for their meal of mouse. Whatever happens to upset your plans can be an exploration of something new. Dare to think outside of your scheduler, folks. Because you might get stuck on the highway. Be sure you have a book or some music and enjoy a few minutes respite. And if you’re unprepared, improvise. Pull a pen and scrap piece of paper from the floor board of your car and write a poem. Use your cell phone to call you Mom and say hello.

I’m just rambling here, but it’s nice to have some unexpected time to do so. Enjoy the journey, my friends.