[bizi]

I think I like your brother.
I shake my head at your hubby.
bizi

[Mari]

Bizi and Waves,

I did not get back to the "packing" Tuesday because I was preoccupied by other things.

Alos, I was not up to starting over again after hubby altered my system.

I have to do a real pack Wed.
Get the toiletries sorted and put everything in the bag to make sure stuff fits.
I will decide at some point re the 2nd (third) pair of pants.


M

[Dmom3005]

Mari

Have a good trip. I agree with Bizi on shaking head at hubby.

Donna

[Mari]

I bough a very small suitcase at Target Wednesday that is a little bit bigger and is more substantial, more put together/more structured
I want the bag and its contents to be light enough for me to easily carry/roll/lift.

This is what I am adding to my list
ear-buds that work
laundry soap --
hand lotion --
bath soap -- because I am fussy about smells
bite guards
pens
notebook
pair of jeans with light fabric
white tea
maybe some nuts

Have not decided to bring iPad. I will be disappointed if it gets lost/ stolen.
I have to remember to keep the charger with the phone in my purse rather than packed away.

I hope to do a full pack early Friday afternoon.

M

[Mari]

Hi,

A week ago, twenty minutes into my siwm, I started crying.


I have been doing weight lifting instead and that is working for me.

======
I cried a lot today (Wed).
I am overwhelmed about getting myself to where I need to go. . . including getting there on time.

And this is hard work -- leaving my comfort zone, traveling via plane for the first time in almost 15 years.

Packing . . . Does everyone hate packing? I am worried about taking too much and worried about taking not enough.
Lots of sadness.

M

[bizi]

Oh mari,
I am sorry this is overwhelming to you.
Know that you are prepared, it sounds like so you should be comforted by that. Flying by yourself is brave.
your my hero this morning. I will do the same thing as you aug 1st.
bizi

[waves]

Mari,

The bottom line is that if you can get there with your meds and your CPAP, things will mostly be ok. Everything else can be done without or bought.

Here is your travel short list:

-- self
-- meds
-- CPAP
-- ID
--------------------- if you get this far, the airline can figure you out.
-- boarding pass
-- money
-- phone + charger
--------------------- these additional three will make life significantly easier

Everything else is gravy.

When you get overwhelmed, maybe you can take a few mins to re-anchor yourself to the fact that these things are already pretty well sorted out -- you will have them, so you will be OK.

It will be nice to have the suitcase with your other things, and you have a good plan for that. You are in good shape, because you are already working on the gravy part.

I know the whole travel concept is stressing you to the bone. I am sorry about that.

You are going way out of your comfort zone, but you will make it through. Keep taking 5 min breaks. Cry if you need to. Have a mini freak-out if you need to. Then take a deep breath and keep pecking away at your suitcase process.


waves

[Dmom3005]

Have a safe trip.

Donna

[Mari]

I had planned on driving myself to the airport and leaving the car in the lot because hubby gets very very very very very very stressed driving through the signs and the ramps . . .

Wednesday he said that he wants to drive me to the airport

In his mind he is helping me by doing that and maybe he wants to be with me, but I do not see his driving as a good thing.

---
The one good thing is that he can sometimes be better than I am about being on time.

M

[waves]

My vote is to let hubby take you, if he wants to. It won't be the first or the last time he freaks out over some ramps, right?

Does he plan on parking or dropping you off? Drop-off would be hugely more efficient, but not sure how either of you feel about that.

My friend and I did that when I left Florida. No parking hassle for them. We had the few moments for final hugs and goodbyes (I mean how much of that can one reasonably do, anyway ) It worked well. For that matter, he picked me up from Arrivals when I got there too. Mostly coz I had told him the flight would be late and then it wasn't, but this worked out better, IMHO. Again no parking hassle for them, and no trying to divide myself (emotionally or practically) between socializing and dealing with travel processes.