MARY ANN'S TRAVELS

PACKING? HEAVEN OR HELL. I GO THROUGH THIS BEFORE EVERY TRIP. FIRST IT'S THE MENTAL PACKING PHASE. THIS MAY START WEEKS TO MONTHS IN ADVANCE. HOW MANY SHOES TO BRING? WILL 20 PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR BE ENOUGH FOR FOUR DAYS? (HEAVEN FORBID THE DAY I WASH OUT UNDERWEAR IN A HOTEL SINK!!) WITHIN A MONTH BEFORE THE TRIP I HAVE THE PACKING LIST NARROWED BUT STILL NOT FINISHED.

NEXT COMES THE SELECTION OF LUGGAGE. I HAVE ENOUGH LUGGAGE IN ALL DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES TO PACK FOR THE ENTIRE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON INCLUDING THE PIRATES. (I HAVE JUST DATED MYSELF WITH THAT MOVIE.)ONCE THE DECISION IS MADE, THE LUGGAGE IS PLACED IN THE MOST CONSPICOUS PLACE FOR ME ADORE AND STROKE AND JUST LOOK IN ADMIRATION. THEN I MENTALLY PACK AND REPACK EVERYTHING IN THOSE LUCKY PIECES.

THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS TORTUTOUS. BUT ONCE I START THE ACTUAL PACKING, IT'S A BREEZE.

IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I WILL DO THE REAL PACKING AND THEN THE COMPULSIVE/OBSESSIVE FEELINGS WILL BE GONE..... UNTIL THE NEXT TRIP. THEN IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.