I am going home to visit. Going from the West Coast to the East Coast. I am anticipating this with great joy - I love to go home, where my older sister treats me as if I am too young to be able to handle any responsibility. It's lovely because that means no cooking, no housework, nothing. Just back into our birth-order-roles where I am 'the baby'. I have cousins and old friends to visit, old haunts to revisit. I am excited at this chance to replenish my spirit.
What stops this joyous anticipation from being full-out rapturous is that I have to PACK. I hate packing. No, I loathe it. From gathering the clothes and the shoes to the toiletries and other doodads, from the airplane reading material to the electronics, I hate it. And so I procrastinate.
My suitcase is in the bathroom from the short trip I took last week. I have been pitching things into it all week, as I think of them. And still no clothes. I should be doing that now, but I am still thinking about it. I am thinking about it in front of the computer where I write. But I write this only after some Scrabble on Facebook and checking the baseball standings. I call it creative procrastination.
Cropped pants for warm days, jeans for cool evenings, a raincoat, the dreaded swimsuit, enough shirts to last because my sister's water seems to set stains instead of making tomato sauce go away. A large purse and a small one. Sandals, walking/running shoes (who are we kidding, I don't run!), dress shoes. Oh yes - pjs/nightie, a robe and slippers. A dressy outfit because I know of one night I will definitely need that, and, being Italian, it is black so it can also be used if a funeral occurs! OH! Underwear! Don't forget THAT! Socks for the walking shoes. My brain hurts from thinking about this - maybe one more game of Scrabble?
The hysteria sets in when I start with the toiletries. Yes, I have sample sizes, but what good are they when I'll be gone for 2+ weeks? There's shampoo, conditioners, defrizzing stuff, deodorant, body lotion, a razor, all the face anointing items and then... MAKEUP!! Even if I pare back the amount of clothes, most of these toiletries ruin any chance for using just a carry on bag since all the liquids are over the allowable size. Oh, the tweezers! Don't forget those. I am now in a full flop sweat. iPod charger, camera charger, cell phone charger... This is all making me wonder if I just should not go. OR - I could finish this writing, get a glass of wine, some chocolate, and play just one more game of Scrabble. "After all", to quote Scarlett O'Hara, "tomorrow is another day."
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