terrifying events that occurred to me at the departure - Delta refused to check in my luggage-so I was pushed to make a choice to ether fly without it or NOT at all.
5 minutes decided almost everything. Just 5 minutes… 3 days of chaotic packing, going over and over with feeling of hesitation about what shall ONE need for a trip-eliminating something just to add another pile of clothes. Struggle between the desire to have outfits for every occasion for 7+ weeks trip overseas and a common sense, whispering in my ears against too many choices.
I tried to write a list of categories: outwear, everyday wear, special occasion wear, country house wear, evening wear, etc. It didn’t help my out-sized imagination; if anything it’s complicated the packing process even more.
The truth is I don’t know how to pack for myself.
I’ve done packing for other people and they seemed to be grateful for that.
When it comes down to packing for myself I am indecisive, over imaginative, and I have to try everything before putting it in the suitcase. It makes the process of packing as complicated as a science project…
And even when something is tried on and approved, the chance of elimination is still possible, simply because I somehow accumulated a huge collection of clothes - combination of different tops, bottoms; multiplies the variety of choices and makes the packing going bizarre…
I always think of what if: -one of my girlfriends is going to get married-or there’s a birthday bash-or a black tie event-or a party for whatever reason?, etc. So I try to pack the outfits for all these occasions, then there’s always my love for the opera-I try to go to the Kiev opera house at least twice a week – can you imagine the number of little black dresses I’ve got to have available, and the little purses, and all the accessories ?
I end up having to huge suitcases and honestly still felt like I forgot something.
When I left apartment (in ruins: with clothes and shoes everywhere) for JFK everything that was supposed to be going smoothly started going the opposite way.
First, I discovered that one of my suitcases handles is stuck inside and would not pop up, which made it very difficult to roll, F train took forever to arrive on 63rd street- then escalator on E train wasn’t running up and we waited 15 minutes for the elevator, air train was fast, but too many stops!!… Verbal accompaniment by Evgueni ,who was kind enough to help me out, BUT merciless with his predictions…His “I told you so” were so frequent that, when we got to the terminal and noticed that it was no crowd; his final “I told you so” was almost unbearable…
The agent which we approached with my 2 huge suitcases + carry on + back pack + purse, looked surprised:
Agent:”Are you flying to Amsterdam?”- with a facial expression like it was some kind of a joke.
I:”yes.”-despite being scared I tried to sound strong and in charge…
Agent:” at 3:50?”-she looked at the clock.
I:” yes”-trying NOT to look at the clock.
Agent:” you’re late…5 minute late for check in”-then she started typing something without glimpse at my printed itinerary .
I:”…………”-honestly I was speechless and got cold sweat dripping down my back
Agent:” you can try to make it, if you go right now without your baggage…you might be able to get on the plane”- I wish I could say that she looked sympathetic….instead she looked a little curious and vindictive.
I turned to my 2 heavily pregnant suitcases, which contained all my clothes for the trip and at that moment – the moment of no return-I nodded without nagging and took the boarding pass in my cold fingered hands.
Evgueni looked like he was partly satisfied with being right (another silent “I told you so”), and partly shocked because he had to bring those TWO back to the apartment…
I opened one suitcase and in a split second took a pair of jeans, a tee shirt and white down jacket out of it.
My carry on was filled with bunch of shoes: boots and pumps –the back pack had computer in its belly...
I walked away promptly, holding tears in my eyes…
The moment of truth…the moment of decision…the moment that felt like something physically was pulled out of me. I was going for 7.5 weeks trip to Europe wardrobe-less!!!!!!
Should I mention that plane left an hour behind the schedule?…And then, after waiting for 6 hours for my flight to Kiev in Amsterdam’s airport, I was asked to check in my carry on right before getting on the plane…I hesitated for a moment, the flight attendant’s professional smile kindly assured me it will be on the plane, I thought that there’s NO CHANCE that something more could happen….just to find out that my carry on was lost!!! It took me another 2 days to get it!!!
Now I have to learn to live without choice of what to wear...Will I survive???
