xxx

Gee, Dad knows how to lay on the guilt, doesn't he.................

dumb

I always check in with [email protected] and have him go over all my documents and do a spell check on them. I would hate to offend anyone by making a spelling error, and since he is perfect I know if he looks things over I will be 100% correct. Thanks.

lizbeth

I've begun my last two trips in the following manner, and I think I'll keep up this pre-trip habit:<BR><BR>Take off work early.<BR>Ride cable car to spa. (Nothing like acting like a tourist in your own city to get you in the mood!)<BR>Put myself in the hands of my beloved facialist for 90 min.<BR>Walk out with glowing skin, mellow mood.<BR><BR>The endorphins released by this ritual have allowed me to sail through some really horrendous recent pre-trip and early-trip experiences (like the plane to NY catching fire in the A/C system and subsequent emergency landing in Denver) with more calm than usual.

Thyra

Looks like Lizbeth and myself have nearly the same beloved ritual.<BR>I take a half day off the day before I leave, take a cab.. (no point in driving through Los Angeles getting stressed out) head over to my favorite spa.. for an hour long "sleeping tiger" massage and facial.. cab home, have a glass of wine and go out to dinner with my husband!... Only THEN am I able to let go enough to live "in the moment" as one needs to while travelling.

Matt

First we go over ALL our lists and take great joy in checking each completed item off the list.<BR>Them we sleep very late the day of departure. Then we eat breakfast out at our favorite place. Then we are off to the airport only 15-20 min. away.<BR>We always arrive 3-4 hours before our flight; and sit back and people watch.

i do it my way

Get very drunk the night before.<BR>Go to bed very late.<BR>Wake with hangover, shower, dress.<BR>Kiss the kitties goodbye and cry.<BR>Call a taxi.<BR>Smoke a cigarette.<BR>Check for passport & plane tickets.<BR>Go to the airport and get on the plane.<BR>

jpm

I tell myself as I am walking out the door, "If I aien't got it, I don't need it!" and all worry and anxiety melts away. Been doing this for years - well, it works for me.

kavey

With the exception of when we went to Africa (on remote safari) my husband just reminds me that nothing forgotten is a tragedy - as long as we have passports and credit cards, that is, since we're not going to Outer Mongolia and can buy it when we get there!<BR><BR>We don't really have a ritual but I never sleep well because I worry the power will fail, the alarm wont go off etc. It's the only time we usually end up with two or three alarms set.<BR><BR>(If I am late to work, who would worry, but late to HOLIDAY? Never!!!)<BR><BR>Kavey<BR><BR>PS Wish I had the pre holiday tidying thing downpat like some of you, we usually do come home to chaos!

vmerri

Always make check-off lists of whats in each suitcase, while laundry and dryer are going a mile a minute. All garbage cans must be empty, bed changed, nice clean home when we return. Husband cooks lovely meal and tries to have me relax. Must check my pocketbook a zillion times.

ca

I don't know if it's a ritual but it's seemingly perpetual....I run around chaotic, packing, cleaning etc.. Try and get a cab out to JFK usually arriving hour(if lucky) before flight...do a quick check in... down as many glasses of wine as possible...smoke as many cigs as possible... and board minutes before the plane is to take off.<BR>Well, maybe this year will be different.

Shanna

Blue, my house must be thoroughly cleaned, and I will have completed many projects that originated the moment after I made reservations and the trip was certain (projects like get a truckload of dirt and spread it in the front yard; paint kitchen and baths). The departure anxiety is fierce in me and my list includes checking each door and window lock, setting A/C, unplugging everything, covering the coffee pot with it's muffin, pulling shades. The house is so quiet and lovely that I wonder why I'm leaving. Then I go into each room and ask Freya to protect our house while I'm gone. I also wave my hands all over everything like the bed and table tops, maybe in blessing. Okay, I'm nuts, I know.

Nora M.

Shanna, who is Freya if I may ask? A goddess? And why do you put a muffin on your coffee pot. Not judging just curious :^)

Shanna

Hi, Nora. Yes, Freya is a Germanic god(...dess, but she's old, the witch prototype, so it's hard to think of her as a goddess, who seem to be young and gorgeous). She's a mother figure - although not a madonna - and protects the home. The "muffin" is a cover - a cozy - I made for my litle 4-cup coffee pot. It looks cute and it's a good pot - had for years. I tend to get personal with my possessions. I haven't named the pot (yet), but I'm quite attached to it.

Daphne

Reserve boarding or sitter for cat.<BR>Open suitcase 3 days before.<BR>Gather travel books and pages of info to take, put the rest away.<BR>Set timers, shades and unplug small appliances.<BR>Eat, drink or freeze food.<BR>Water or move plants to automatic sprinklers.<BR>Call Super Shuttle.<BR>Gather plane tickets, passports, money.<BR>Take care of intestional distress [nerves].<BR>Kiss cat goodbye.<BR>Lunch at airport after check-in.<BR>Board, using good luck rituals.<BR>Sick thinking about it--glad not to be going today!

Nora M.

Just read your other post about not being old, sounds like you live an interesting life, here's to you! If I had a wine glass right now I would toast you, how about a mouse instead. Click.

Parrot Mom

Besides cleaning the house, making sure all dirty clothes are washed, dried and put away...we have the cleaning of the bird cages and making two huge batch of frozen veggies for my birds and hers.Oh yes... just before we leave the house we tell the birds how long we are going to be gone and add one more day, so help me.The luggage except for carry ons are in the car, papers and camera by the stairs. By the time we leave the house and lock the door I'm exhausted.

sandy

I usually go through my list to make everythings checked, clean my house,remind my daughter to come water my flowers, remind the neighbors to pickup our mail,remind the kids where the wills are and my good watch is hidden, e-mail my itinerary to everyone important in my life, finish packing and check through the house to make sure I did'nt leave the curling iron or iron plugged in. My husband sets the house timers.

The Blue Nun

My, my I thought I was the only one that cleaned the convent and blessed everything before I left!<BR><BR>God Bless all of you for sharing!<BR><BR>TBN

Mandy

Like nearly everyone else, I clean the house, clean my desk, clean the clothes, etc. Then my husband says "You're out of time, get in the car." We leave.

russ

Kavey,<BR><BR>I laughed when I read your comments about setting 2 or 3 alarm clocks. I set my regular alarm clock as well as my battery operated travel clock (in case of said power failure). No more sleepless nights for me!!!