I’m one of those people who pack two weeks ahead of time. The list is made two weeks before that with a different list compiled in the bedroom, downstairs and work since that is when the “don’t dare forget that” comes to mind. A final list is compiled from the three miscellaneous lists before the packing process begins. It is not really some form of OCD as much as it is I can’t remember squat anymore and although the approach seems fairly organized in theory it is very “crazy old lady with 40 cats who argues with own creative voices in her head and writes them down on toilet paper and leaves them in various open spaces where years of newspapers are not scattered”.

So to my surprise none of my bags were going to be acceptable for an 8 day vacation and all the crap that “needs” to come with me. A gigantic bag had to be purchased. Out to visit my three lovers (as my husband affectionately calls my addiction): TJ, Marshalls and Ross. After my three various trips, a monster bag was bought which was pale gray in color. It was just magnificent in size and depth with wheels to boot. There is no way that any human being could mistakenly walk off with this bag. It was one of a kind.

Wow a vacation. We haven’t been on a vacation in two years. You know like really away way. I needed to pack the baby’s bag which actually requires more than mine, but thankfully everything comes in munchkin size. Needed to pack the husband’s bag too because he has some form of packlexia which is the complete inability to fold anything without it being in a wrinkled ball. Although he believes if it is gently placed there will be considerably less in wrinkles. This is not true. Out of the hundred jobs he has had, why couldn’t one of them been at the Gap, even if just for a month?

So a rebellious streak hit me while packing briefs and Downy wrinkle release spray, why organize what you will wear day by day? Just bring a bunch of stuff and be whimsical and decide when you get there? Pack it all and decide later. It is interesting that my rebellious streak has gone from smoking pot in the preacher’s bathroom to this pathetic form of girls gone wild. But that’s what seven to five day, being a wife and having a toddler do to force the crazy right out of you.

Every minute of my day is organized in email, calendars and lists. Part of the vacation was not having to organize and it would begin with my new ginormous suitcase.

 “Oh my gosh, what the heck do you have in here?” “Kimi, this thing is way too big.” It couldn’t be too big, TJ wouldn’t have done that to me. They don’t sell bags that are too big to go on a plane, do they? Isn’t there some regulation manufacturers have to follow? He looked on the airline’s site while registering online and sure enough it was going to cost us extra because it was a tad heavier than expected. We “lovingly” named my bag Manatee because of its large gray girth.

We were at the airport by six am. We went to check the luggage in at the curb and the Skycab grunted while picking up Manatee. He put it on the scale and not only was it WAY too heavy at 65 pounds; it was too large by length and width. My rebellious spirit costs us $60 dollars both ways.

Whiling trying to avoid the husband’s evil eye, I grabbed his hand and said maybe we could just call it a “love” fee since Manatee was loved before it cost us a hundred and twenty dollars…Certainly with a love fee they would love my bag wouldn’t they? After all it had a giant orange sticker that said HEAVY which in baggage handler terms also means “She paid $120 bucks for this over weight polyester mammal so you better give it kind attention”.

She did make it back to the Atlanta airport at the end of our trip. There was no love for the Manatee. She was beaten and scarred both inside and out. Guess they thought there either had to be a bomb or possibly a dead body in there since they rummaged all through the poor girl. One of greasy fingered employees tore by favorite beach hat that was packed in the bowels of her gray matter and left fingerprints all over my personals.

The vacation was a great success with much fun to be had by all. There were several lessons learned on this trip which unfortunately had to do with money. Guess the ones you remember as an adult usually do? But the point of this blog is to tie it in with recruiting. So the lesson learned and to be shared is throwing caution to the wind can be expensive. And, just because you have to pay more doesn’t necessarily mean that others involved are concerned with your expense. If you want to be rebellious, have a plan B.