Tuesday, June 27, 2006

The Captain has Turned on the Fasten Seat Belt Sign....



Actually, we're not quite that close to taking off for Finland yet, but we're getting there. Saturday is only a few days away! I am very excited to be able to visit my family and home again. It's been just over two years. I am feeling especially fortunate to squeeze this visit in because initially we thought we would have to skip Finland and go straight to New Zealand - so there is a plus to all of this waiting for the visas. And I am incredibly blessed to be paid through the summer for my school position and yet have all of this time off. Hmph, I guess the Universe does know what it is doing after all? ;-)

So far the stuff I have gathered to take with us (Bobelia, these are your next clues for a new personality profile......):
- 2 Wall-mounted Cat Corner Brushes, "Cat-a-Combs" (if you have cats and don't have this - you need one!!)
- 6 Elvis shot-glasses
- too many toddler-to-4-year old outfits to count....
- bacon bits
- latest Oprah Magazine
- a parachute

Seems like I've got almost all the essentials...

Actually, if you were a member of my family (and this is STRICTLY referring to my mother's side of the family!!!), you would know that this isn't even close to the weirdest stuff we've lugged over the ocean. You have to know, I come from a long line of women whose skills in the art of packing for trips are, well, overflowingly overabundant - overly so. When I was eight, I went on a SKIING trip (this is an important detail) to Lapland with my mother, her cousin and my second cousin. We piled into our '75 Saab 96. There was so much luggage some of it had to be strapped onto the roof. Less than 20 miles into our 600+ mile trip the the poor (Swedish) car overheats. My dad is overjoyed to come rescue our overloaded, overheated pile of (Swedish) junk. We couldn't switch vehicles with him, because the other vehicle was smaller - and, as you already know, we had some luggage. After some coolant, swearing, waiting and doing that shifting-from-one-foot-to-the-other-because-your-toes-are-freezing dance, the adults decide that maybe (!!??!!) we need to send some of the luggage back with my dad. So, naturally, we go on without our skiis.

Now I ask you, how is a child supposed to grow up in that kind of an environment and turn out to be a normal packer?

The BEST piece of luggage I ever owned was one of those expandable (........whaaat.....?.......) bags. It had three extra zippers that zipped around only to reveal another heavenly layer of EXTRA room for important STUFF! When packed to its maximum capacity - hey, they wouldn't have made it that way if it wasn't suppopsed to be used! - the bag was about 4 feet taller than I am. One time Bruce and I made a human & luggage sandwich at the top of the escalator at the Helsinki airport because the bag fell on its side and got stuck. I'm sure it looked like the escalator was trying to give birth to a shipping container. Sadly, that bag is no longer with us. I think its zipper and wheels busted from undue pressure. I'm pretty sure the thing was made in Sweden.

Haera ra,
Tia

37 comments:

MaR said...

Glad to have read your post...you should see us when we leave for ski vacation.My husband keeps telling me we are not normal...what's normal, though? tiny suitcase and forgetting the important stuff?? Michele sent me today! nice blog! and have fun in Finland!

Anonymous said...

I loooove expandable luggage. ;) It's an absolute godsend.

I hope you have a nice trip...thanks for visiting me today!

Stephen Newton said...

What a wonderful story about the skis going back home with luggage. Thanks for making my day.

Bon Voyage!

Bobealia... said...

Great story!! I've had many an experience with overweight luggage at the airport, and I can totally picture the human sandwich... or is it luggage sandwich? It's like a Club sandwich, but involving humans and luggage...
I am really good at packing.
Also, I know about bringing weird things because when we were in the Caribbean if someone would go home for a vacation, everyone else would take orders. One time, someone came back from a vacation home with York Mint Patties and Victoria's Secret undies for me, sticky tack and an external harddrive for my husband, White Castle mini burgers for someone, bug spray for someone else, Bayleaf for another person, and array of other spices, hair dyes, magazines, books, and Kosher foods for the public at large.
Are you wearing the parachute on the plane?
Hee Hee.
Also, I just want to add that I love Saabs. Especially the old hatchbacks.

Anonymous said...

One of my favorite blogs is by an individual in New Zealand. She posts sooooo many pictures that I just told her I may have to invest in some Fear of Flying therapy to see for myself how an area that beautiful can actually be real. Have a marvelous trip!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah honey, the trauma from that experience has left scars, you'll be hearing from my therapist! Perhaps I should POST the photo of our "EXPLOSION" of luggage on MY blog! Seriously though, it isn't YOUR packing, it's the things your MOTHER asks us to carry to and fro that make it all so interesting!

WV: The straps on my "fuqnak" broke so we can't carry any extra baggage on the next trip!

Quite possibly, the parachutes will travel as carry-ons on the plane - weird as it may sound, would you trust several thousand dollars of equipment to the luggage handlers????

Mamacita (The REAL one) said...

I'm here from Michele's, and very glad to be here, too.

I'm quite the opposite; I pack very little and I always count on there being a shop where I can find whatever I didn't bring that I suddenly need desperately.

I love to go into unfamiliar stores.

Tracie Nall said...

I am an opposit packer. My goal is to always have just enough luggage that I can carry it all on with me--usually one bag of clothes etc + one bag of shoes and toiletries + a large purse type bag that will fit a couple of books and stuff for the plane.

Michele says hi and congrats on being site of the day!

MsT said...

I tend to overpack, but my last trip was just the right amount of everything! It helped that what I thought the temp would be and what it actually was were the same. I hope you have a wonderful trip! Michele says hi.

Catherine said...

Hope you have a great time in Finland. And by the time you make it to New Zealand, it will be warmer - the last two weeks have not been the greatest. Here from Michele's

MaR said...

Congrats on being Michele's site of the day!!!

Karen said...

Wow, this is a much more exotic vacation than any I've ever been on! And I thought I overpacked! Thanks for making me feel better.

Michele sent me today! Congrats on being site of the day!

Canadian Mark said...

Sounds like you're off for a great trip. Have a safe flight, parachut or no - did you really pack a parachute?

Michele sent me today.

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Michele sent me! :)

Bon Voyage!

Bobealia... said...

Happy Site of the Day Tia!!!
Hullo from Michele's.
I was super excited to see that you were Site of the Day!
Have a wonderful day!

Anonymous said...

Oh No! did Michelle,http://www.micheleagnew.com/ catch you in the middle of packing????? Congratulations on being her site of the day!!!

kenju said...

This is funny, Tia! Congrats on being Michele's site of the day!

I should print this and give it to my Swedish neighbor, as I am sure she'd get a kick out of it.

Michele sent me.

Heather said...

I hope you have a wonderful trip!!!

Michelle sent me!

Shannon said...

great blog-
have fun on your trip-
here from micheles!

shpprgrl said...

Have a great trip with that expandomatic luggage! Great shot glasses btw! Congrats on SOTD!

Anonymous said...

Hi! Congrats on SOTD and on finally being able to make a trip home! Sounds like it's going to be wonderful! And it sounds like you're all packed up with all the necessities!
Good morning from Michele's!

Janet said...

LOL I always overpack, too...never know what you're going to need!

Hi, Michele sent me :-)

Deb R said...

Oh this was fun to read! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who overpacks for a trip. Congrats on being the SOTD.

Michele sent me!

Anonymous said...

Great post! I always have to bring pretty much everything I own on trips. I haven't gone overseas yet, but hubby fears the day due to what all I'll have luggage wise!
Enjoyed this and hope you have a wonderful trip and visit!
Here from Michele's!

barbie2be said...

i'm leaving for a trip on saturday too! congrats on SOD... michele sent me.

rampant bicycle said...

hello again from Michele's!

Star said...

Hi Tia. Michele sent me. We are also a family of women who pack. My middle daughter had one of those uber expandable bags. The hard part was finding someone to lug it after it was packed. although our family rule was always-you pack it -you carry it.Going back to read some more.

Christi said...

Here from Michele's today. GREAT story. Thanks for the laugh this morning!!

Rene said...

Here from Michele's today, congrats on being SOTD.

Love your packing story. I just got back from a trip in a motorhome which broke down just as we arrived in Vegas. I don't think it was made in Sweden...but you never know. LOL

Sarie said...

Here via Michele's.

srp said...

Congratulations on being Michele's site of the day.
My brother also has this trouble, but only because he lives in Vienna and Mom always tries to send too much stuff back like kitchen pans etc. Most often he is over weight on the luggage and nowadays they are really sticking it to travelers with the extra fees. Even flights within the US now charge for heavy bags.

Anonymous said...

Hello, Michele sent me.

Anonymous said...

Hi Michele sent me to see you off.


Your ski trip sounds like you should have hired dog sleds instead. :-)


I remember packing like that. every trip it gets less ans less. Next one I think I'll bring nothing and just shop. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wow,
I used to pack a lot, too, but then when i was made to carry and handle my own bags........things got a lot lighter, haha.

Hope you have a great trip,
here via Michele today.

Gypsy said...

My mother once made me lug a large glass vase from Venice across Italy and back over the ocean to Florida. I'm amazed the thing made it intact. We nicknamed it The Baby.

Congrats on SOTD!

keda said...

bloomin eck! site of the day???

how do you guys do that?? i'm gonna have to stop swearing (offering free sex to footballers) and nearly shagging goths. ooh or use my spy skills to get inside :)

CONGRATULATIONS darling! it is a pleasure to come over here and to have you pop in too.

i'm not even gonna begin talking about my packing and smuggling skills/shocks. but i do feel inspired by you again!

the force is strong with this one ;)

Sandy said...

What an fantastic trip to look forward to. Best of luck in your travels.

Congrats on being site of the day. Michele sent me over.