58

pages of a packing list.

That's how I roll.

When you have the wonders of "google" at your fingertips, and can search out and condense down into one place the distilled wisdom of other's lists, I call it beautiful.

And I like to do things well.  I also like to research.

In our church drama for a retreat one year, I had the distinct privilege (yes, you could say it was a dream come true and I am just fine admitting that) of starring as "Carrie-On Luggage".  Note I wasn't called "baggage" as that connotes a whole different scenario involving reams of counseling and heaps of issues.  I've got my baggage, I just try to keep in as a supporting role, not a starring one.

Well, perhaps that name was somewhat foreshadowing of a real-life role.  Me as intrepid adoptive parent traveling across the globe in an orderly and well-packed fashion, perfectly prepared for any weather, travel or playtime scenario, able to leap small obstacles with a single bound and equipped to remain nourished and hydrated in any circumstance or situation.

It is ALL about preparation, people.  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

On our first trip to China to bring Anna home, I managed to bungle our airline tickets unwittingly.  We left Minneapolis at 9am, and at 3pm in the afternoon, after over 6 hours of travel, the pilot came on the loudspeaker and announced that we were now flying over Minneapolis/St. Paul.

"Whhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaat?", you might be wondering.  Yep.  I'll tell you another time.

This time, however, let me give you a little insight into the simple workings of my brain.

I've been bugged.  Bothered.  Upset and slightly aggravated that I didn't do that part of our trip well.
It was my first time booking international travel and I had certain assumptions about what might make it enjoyable that all "flew out the window" (pardon the pun) when that pilot made his announcement.

In fact, Jim observed that I wanted a do-over on the travel portion of our trip from that moment on.  And guess what, he is right.  I hate doing it wrong.

So, redemption time is at hand!  Soon, I can book tickets for four of us, and while I might make different mistakes this time, they won't be the same ones.  Thanks be.  

Now, back to that first trip and packing.  I had it down.  I had a list and Anna's suitcase in a semi-permanent state of packing for 3 months.  And guess what?  We had JUST what we needed.  Perfect.

I'm no perfectionist, but I do like to be prepared.  It's like a beautiful false sense of control, really.  And this time around, I need a new packing list.

Why?

Because my list from last time is somewhat obsolete.  Emma Kate is 5!  I need to bring things for a 5 year old.  That, and we are traveling in a different season, AND I can add the items that we never knew we'd want or need until we were there.

So my list to sort and sift through will be made all the more fun because I emailed it to Christine, to torture her with.  After 58 cups of tea, and numerous phone calls about the best choice between bringing actual dish soap or the cloths that have the soap on it and you wet down to activate the soap, we will be ready!

Here's another insight, not that you want one, into little old moi:  I LOVE this part.  That 58 page document makes me giddy!  I like getting prepared, doing it well, and gleaning the best from others' experiences.  Some call that an oddity, I call it one of my charming quirks.  Just ask me (and Jenn).
:)

So, onward!  I've got lists to manage!

Sara