Are we there yet?

It’s almost noon and I’m still sitting here in my jammies, café au lait beside me. This is technically the first day of my summer vacation, so I figure I’m entitled.

However, we are leaving in two days for sunny Greece and Istanbul, and I have a million things to do in preparation. And I sit here at the kitchen desk, sipping my café au lait and pottering about on the computer.

I started packing last night. There are clothes strewn all over my bedroom (still) as I attempt to choose which capris, which skirts, which tops, which damn shoes to bring. I thought I had this packing-for-Europe thing down pat, since I’ve done it almost every summer for the past 7 years. I do actually have it down to a science, but I’m second-guessing myself, as usual. Hence the early start to packing, in the hopes that by tomorrow night, I’ll have it all done.

DD is working today and tomorrow, and is off to a concert tomorrow evening. I asked her earlier today when she was planning to get her packing done. She gazed at me for a long time, then haughtily informed me that she had it all done in her head, then rattled off exactly what she was bringing. O – kay. That’ll work. That’ll also take her all of five minutes, probably on Wednesday morning as we await our ride to the airport.

A friend of DD’s will be staying in our house while we’re gone, which, while great for security and plant-watering, is another thing I have to think about. What does this girl like to eat? Should I leave any food in the fridge for her? She hasn’t yet replied to DD’s email asking those very questions. Did I remember to tell her where the vacuum is kept, just in case she needs it? Um – no, I didn’t. Did I show her where I keep the laundry detergent? Well, no. Did I tell her that PG will be coming to take my car for a week or two so he can have the paint looked at (he’s not entirely happy with the quality of the paint on the roof or hood and thinks that “something” needs to be done about that)? Again, no.

So I must leave DD’s friend a note detailing all of this, plus anything else I can think of that might be pertinent. And she’s really a lovely, very responsible young woman whom I have known for 13 years!

I need to chill out about these things. I’m not doing any of the million things I need to do anyway, I’m just thinking anxiously about them all.

Yes. Relax.

I’m going to go watch “Shirley Valentine” on DVD now. That is definitely good preparation for Greece.