Day 69: Packing for a Year

In our family, Sue is the packer. Before any vacation or trip, I can consistently count on 2 things happening. First, Sue will be awake all night packing the day before a trip. You might be thinking, "oh she must close her eyes for at least a few minutes". If you are thinking this, you are wrong. Something in her body is triggered by packing that releases energy enhancing endorphins that will not allow her to sleep--not even for one second. It is pretty amazing. Secondly, Sue is a master in organization. Our bed will be covered four feet deep with clothes and things she wants to bring on the trip. Amazingly, all of this "stuff" always seems to fit in the two small bags that we are taking. And what makes this even more amazing is that not only does it fit, it is folded perfectly, organized by child, and arranged so that each outfit can be pulled out exactly when it is needed. Some may call this OCD, but we prefer to call it "attention to detail." On occassion, I have made the mistake of saying, "hey why don't you let me pack" or "why don't you just throw this all in the bag and come to bed." Without saying a word, she lets me know that this isn't an option.

I tease Sue often about her packing habits. As usual, some of what is written above is slightly exagerated. However, I can honestly say that no one packs more thoroughly than Sue. Ultimately, I am glad that she takes the time to keep us organized and I am awed by how she is able to throw it all together.

Today, I was wishing I had my beautiful wife with me to help me pack. I wasn't just packing for a week or even a month. I was packing for a whole year. It is amazing how much stuff the Army gives you and how little space there is in the few small duffel bags they give you to pack it in. There is the body armor, sleeping bag, seven layers of winter clothes, 4 uniforms, 10 pairs of socks, t-shirts, exercise clothing, bedding, accessories for your weapons, flight jumpsuits, etc. Then there is the stuff I was given that I still haven't figured out what it is used for. Anyway, as the task laid before me, I was wishing I had someone with me who could visualize where to put all this stuff and then magically make it disappear into the bags. I knew Sue could have made it happen. Unfortunately, she wasn't available. So I struggled on my own and somehow, after several hours of pain and agony, I managed to fit it all in. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't as good as Sue would have done...but hey, at least I am going to get some sleep tonight.