Empty Promises (Repost from JS Blog)

Every trip home, I promise myself that I'm not going to have too much to take back with us, so that I can avoid the stress of trying to make sure each piece of luggage fits within the 50 pound requirement without going over.


Every trip home, I seem to have a lapse in memory to that promise to myself, and we always have far more to take home with us than we came with. This trip is no exception.
I thought that since we didn't bring that many clothes this trip, and that some of our luggage wasn't full, that we'd be skating through this trip without having to weigh and re-weigh each piece- wrong. I think, instead, that I decided I had plentyyyy of room, so I shopped, shopped, and shopped some more.


Granted, some of those goodies aren't mine, they are Marcel's or others, but things do add up, obviously quicker than I anticipated.


I also thought this trip that I'd start packing my bags a little at a time, so that when the time came to pack (such as now) that it would make things much easier. Because of that little philosophy, I managed to have several pieces of luggage packed a few weeks ago of things that I didn't plan on wearing, using, or what simply wasn't for me in the first place. Unfortunately, when it got down to the 'real' packing yesterday, I was over the weight limit in several of the pieces that I planned to check, which left me feeling a little stressed to say the very least.
The solution ended up being going through each and every box, grabbing some of the heavier items and packing them into a carry-on, which luckily is on rollers. I 'think' (and I say that loosely) that we'll be ok now, and we'll get by with paying for two extra pieces of checked luggage, which is par for the course for us.


Aside from that little drama, I'm feeling pretty good. I managed to make it through a visit with my friends (and fellow JSers) Bethany and ElisaC without crying, and as always it was wonderful to see them.


I also managed to make it through an entire evening at my friend Samantha's last night, without the first tear being shed. Doesn't mean I didn't think about it, but as I told her, I think I'm in denial mode, and she said that's where we have to be.


Luckily, she's hoping to visit this summer for a few weeks, and we'll be able to celebrate our birthday's together. We're both really hoping that we can iron out all the details, and once I get home, I'll be planning and scheming to see what we can get ourselves into.


I'm always sad when I leave the deep south, but I do love my other home also. My roots are here though, and they run deep, so saying goodbye is always difficult.


I do know that 2009 is going to be a GREAT year, so I'm looking forward to see what the year is going to unfold.


Marcel and I will be celebrating our five year wedding anniversary next month. I know five years may not seem like long, but it's something to celebrate, and celebrate we will.


So tell me something great that has been happening in your world. I haven't had the opportunity to visit any journals, but at least I'll have an idea of what's been going on with you until I can check-in and catch up.

My Gratitude List for January 19, 2008.

Today I'm Grateful For:

1- Special notes from old and dear friends.
2- Being sentimental, because it's part of what makes me, me.
3- Blossoming trees, which promises more to follow.
4- The realization that the world is much smaller than we know.
5- Exit row plane seats.