Packing

Five more days until the next international trip.  Grand European Tour  And tomorrow there is out of town company coming to stay over for one of them!   Jean, Joe, and the kids are coming on their way back home from Disney World. All my kids are coming to spend tine with our old neighbor who grew up with them in Chicago and is really like another daughter.  It will be a late night after a busy day of getting the house ready and actually cooking dinner.  Something I seldom do.

So what about getting me and my house ready for a three week tour of Europe.  Luckily my girls pitch in and take care of making sure bills are paid and the Skeeter dog is cared for.  I am pretty sure that Karen is anxious to drop me off at the airport on Saturday afternoon.  Katie will keep Skeeter company and the little wiener dog will return the favor while her Dave is still in Afghanistan.  Christine will maybe miss me as much as I will miss her and the kids.,  I will  miss out on so many things with them this month. 

I will not be here to help see Jamie packed off to college.  Very exciting milestone for the whole family.  Christian and Maddie each have birthday parties.  This is Christian's last childhood year.  Next year he will become a teenager.  He and his friends will be celebrating at the computer game venue and at the Cubs - Braves game.  Maddie's gang of girls will be celebrating at Monster Mini Golf.  I still have to make VIP passes for them.  I will miss so much while enjoying sights I never thought I would see.

So how do I get some clothes in my suitcase?  I resurrected the rolling duffel because it is slim enough to store under the river boat bed.  So one suitcase and a small carry on to get through 22 days in the glittering capitals of Europe from Amsterdam to BudaPest and on to Prague.  First problem is that every pair of slacks must be tried on.  Can't afford space to carry along something that might not fit right.  Then to match up tops.  I need something pretty to wear in the evenings for dinners and the opera, and symphony.  In my head I believe that in Europe people must dress nicer than we do.  I KNOW that this is not true, and besides, everyone I will be traveling with is probably from America!

I am thinking of this as the Castles and Cathedral Tour.  I know that every city or town will have one, the other, or both.  So skorts are added to my wardrobe.  Can't wear shorts into churches so I have that covered - no pun intended.  Unfortunately each one needs to be tailored before dropping into the suitcase.  In order to fit over my hips and rear I need a size that is way too large for my waist!  My slacks need to be hemmed too.  Guess that will be Tuesday.

Can't take too much but need to be ready for lots of walking, lots of hills, lots of uneven surfaces, ready for rain, cool, hot, and abbeys.  The e-reader will save lots of space.  So I really have to think this whole thing through.  Guess I should go get busy about it!