Getting ready for a trip can be somewhat daunting. I know. I've done it often. But years ago, being unseasoned as a traveler and not being held hostage by every conceivable airline fee known to man, I had the freedom to pack at will. To give you an idea of what that meant, think Queen Guenivere treking across the Moors to spend her life with King Arthur. I mean a gal just can't bring a toothbrush, deodorant and a change of underwear. It would be safe to say that the number of my suitcases on every trip rivaled any 19th century immigrant ship crossing the Atlantic.
I do remember only one time on a two month trip to Italy...that one airport agent got a little high handed..picky, picky, picky. She had the audacity to want to charge me for the extra weight in my suitcase. Even though I am not a tour type of person, this time, by divine intervention, I happen to be part of a tour. Using every amount of logic I could muster, I was able to successfully unload part of my suitcase at the counter and convince a few members of the tour group to stuff some of the things in their carry on bags....bras, bags, undies went flying and a few other objects which to this day I still cannot identify. But at least I was able to get on the plane without spending one extra penny....Oh there is no satisfaction like that in the world!!!
As years went by and the trips increased the number of items got fewer.....but not exponentially. I mean for me to eliminate one blouse that I wore in kindergarden was a big deal but at least, I was trimming things down a little bit. And every so often I added one more item to the minus pile(Oh!... all right, I'll admit it ....the damn thing didn't fit me anymore!!) But I do know I am getting better at airports. Perfect example ... the trip from Russia to London.
On that trip I had hurt my knee so had to go through security in a wheelchair. When the security guard patted me down with a little white cloth (believe it or not, they use this to test for explosives) all I could think of was "Lady, after eating some of that Russian food, if you are looking for explosives you are testing the wrong end!! No one gave thought to the big bottle of Russian vodka stuffed into my bag. I guess Russians consider traveling with this a necessity.
Unfortunately , the English do not. Soooooooo when I got to Heathrow airport, I was told, because of some customs issue, to throw it out or drink it. Well you know how I am about discarding anything from my luggage!! But with a little ingenuity and charm, I was able to convince the agent that this was needed for "medicinal"purposes. Guess who got to take her vodka on board?
I guess my days of being a traveling pack rat are not over; now let's see..... do you think I can still get that small ironing board into my suitcase????
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