Packing

Just once I would like to be able to pack for a trip well in advance and not wait until the last possible moment. I tried, really. I started on the weekend, thinking what would travel well, what would be comfortable in the warmer climate of Arizona, what would mix and match to make it seem as if I had a bigger wardrobe than I do. But life kept intervening. So many details to take care of before I am free to leave. I have to replace myself at the circ desk, at the ref desk, in my teaching responsibilities, in my church conducting, in the carpool driving, as a mom in caring for Drew - the list is endless! It takes a good dozen people to fill all those little slots. If I wasn't looking forward to going so much, I would just forget the whole thing.

And of course, today I have seminary classes in the evening, so I can't even begin to prepare until after 10pm. Can't really think that far ahead. But at long last I am home, I put stuff in a suitcase, including a ream of copies of the pages of reading I need to do for class next week, and copies of the pages I read last week from which I need to write a (coherent) paper. Right.

I know airline travel is trickier these days. I don't bring much. I recall with a grin my first professional conference. I think I took two big suitcases stuffed full. Silly. Now I don't even fill my little half suitcase, and my carry on bag is small. I keep one eye on the clock. I need to be up and at it by 5:30, to the airport by 6am. So getting to bed before midnight is rather advisable.

Just to be sure, I set the alarm. I never need one, really. I don't know why, but I have always been able to tell myself at night what time I need to be up, and I just wake up about ten minutes beforehand. But when so much is riding on it and I have been delayed about getting to bed, better safe than sorry.

I think of people who have had to leave home in a hurry, who didn't have time to pack - flood, fire, volcano, tsunami, war. I recall the Bible verse about when the end times hit, don't even go back inside to get a sweater - just run for the hills. Deep breath. I wonder why on earth I decided to go to this conference! There is a reason, I am sure of it. Perhaps I will even find out why. But for now, there is no help for it, I am committed. So I climb wearily into bed and focus on the good things about being in Arizona. Morning will come soon enough.