I like the idea to count bags of luggage. During a move from GA to NY, one of my bags accidentally did not make it into the car. We left it in the parking lot! Thankfully about 5 hours later I realized it and called the hotel. Someone turned it in, so the hotel sent it to me. The problem was it had ALL my stuff (clothing, makeup, etc). Everything else was with the movers on the van. The hotel was nice enough to overnight it to our new home for me. Whew!

To actually work well, mms, you have to count "pieces." So if you are carrying a jacket or a hat, that's another "piece." DH once left his raincoat at security and had to dash back for it before boarding the plane.

Thanks Marilyn That should help a lot! DS has a habit of leaving shoes places. I have never understood how you could forget shoes...but he manages to, lol!

You better count kids! Quiet ones get left at the rest stop!

I am suddenly reminded of that marvelous Italian film "Bread and Tulips" which starts with the wife and mother getting accidentally left behind at a rest stop.

In "Home Alone" the person in charge of counting kids, managed to count a neighbor kid instead of Macauly Caulkin. I hope I would notice at airport checkin that the kid was home.

Please share the Valium. It will make everyone happier. Get an extra refill or two before the trip.

This thread reminded me of an incident. Maybe everyone should check their kids luggage right before you leave the house.

We were flying to Florida, our daughter was about 9 years old. I had finished all the packing the day before.

We arrived in Florida to discover at some point our little darling had removed half of her clothes from her suitcase so she could put her teddybear in. I was not a happy camper!

I LOVE the idea of hiding the car at gas stations! He he he!

Everyone is responsible for own luggage, ya leave it, its gone for good. I hope none of my stepdaughters end up in the same outfit the entire cruise. My stepson is way too responsible to leave his luggage. My mom will chain or handcuff her handbag to herself and my sister will guard the thing.

"The quiet ones get left at the rest stop"

No kidding! My husband is the quiet one in his family and was left twice -- once at a rest stop and once at a fast food restuarant.

Of course, perhaps in his family it doesn't matter whether you're quiet or not. His older (louder) brother was left on the side of a freeway in the middle of the night during a snow storm.

They were travelling all night and stopped to quickly change drivers. Older brother got out of the car to pee unbeknownst to the sleeping passengers or driver. They took off and noticed about 100 miles later that older brother was not in the car.

Poor older brother was walking along the interstate wearing pajama bottoms and slippers while the snow came down hoping in vain that maybe this was just a joke and they'd be back for him soon!

Some of the stories are hilarious (although I am sure it was not funny at the time)!

I remember pulling over on the side of the road once, after hours and miles of listening to Mom, he's breathing on me, Mom, she touching me..I must have had flames coming out of my ears, I turned and screamed at the children to not move or speak until I gave them permssion.
They both fell asleep, without a peep ( terrified I am sure)...
Funny thing about that- I remember it so clearly and felt bad afterwards, they have no memory of it ! (perhaps when they go to one of those hypnotists, they will dredge up all the mean things I did )

At least we can be assured that 4 days in a car with pup will be quiet ((&))

Scarlett- well travelling with pup brings up another piece of advice- at least if its a small dog- and that is not to let it out to potty unattended- you will be travelling through areas with BIG birds- and in Alaska a couple of years ago a couple let their chihuahua out of motor home to potty-
an eagle swooped down and flew off with it - also owls are known to fly off with small pups so be careful

Thank you sunbum, Pup weighs about 60 lbs, he is a Standard Poodle so I think he will be safe from the Birds...at least I hope so!

We had another rule, and this one was for my dad. He hardly drove and we had a family owned (extended family) generic blue chevy- always. There was always a zillion other cars that looked exactly like ours.

We made a teasing rule for him to memorize & repeat the plate number.(IL had different plate numbers every few years then.) This way he wasn't leading us all into the wrong car. He still did it every once in awhile when we went grocery shopping when I was young.

I had a friend in high school that always did that changing positions of the car in the parking lot bit until one time his girl got sick of the joke and left with someone else. He never did that to anyone of us in the group again.

ROTFLOL...

STUMPY?....snort....giggle

You guys are so funny.

Scarlett, the 4 days in the car with dear Pup will be quiet IF you don't backseat drive, LOL.

Wagonwheel -- you are my laugh of the day. Loved #1 and 5, but #4 takes the cake.

Great thread; keep 'em coming.

ttt

Any last contributions? I am going try and compile them and come up with a top 25. I'll post it as its own topic.

No, GoT, no last minute contributions from me. I only have to say may the force be with you, you crazy lady