Plan B Poem by Jim Yerman

It was the Scottish poet Robert Burns who in a poem once did decry
That the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Which simply means when you make plans...don't make them aimlessly
If your initial plan runs into trouble...be ready with Plan B.

Friday the 13th I had occasion to ponder this with Ali, Fred and family
As we attempted to paddle our kayaks to an island in the sea.

The weather was beautiful when we left our house, the kind of day for which we yearn.
But as we approached Dunedin causeway, the sky began to turn.

When we stopped on the beach Fred mentioned my trailer tire was a little low
And, as if on cue, the waves got rough and the winds began to blow.

We waited for the weather to break but it was obvious we wouldn't get out to sea.
So we decided to head back to our house and formulate Plan B.

Friday the 13th, however, was proving to be somewhat of an autocrat
When I discovered, while stopping to fill my tire, it wasn't low...but flat.

After paying one dollar for air...one dollar! ...I won't even go into that!
Because it turns out you can't put air into a trailer tire that's flat!

I called Triple A but the trailer wasn't covered, it seems I was running out of prayers.
Upon further reflection it wouldn't have mattered because I didn't have a spare.

"You can leave it hear, " the station owner said, "put it by the door."
And as I was unhitching the trailer from my car...the rain began to pour.

I drove home soaking wet, and after a quick change of my attire
Fred and I drove to Wal-Mart to buy ourselves a tire.

After what I just experienced however, I was painfully aware
That one tire would not be enough...so I also bought a spare.

I was determined Friday the 13th would make me look like a fool...no more!
And I bought two tires without noticing one had 5 lug nut holes and the other one had 4.

Happily the 5 hole tire fit, of the Friday the 13th curse we were finally free
And as our family enjoyed a lunch out together I reflected on Plans A and B.

Plan A was always getting to spend some time as a family...together.
Plan B was not allowing Plan A to be ruined by the weather.