It's here!

I know it sounds strange, 

but I was thinking this morning about how vacations sneak up on you.

Even for those of us who like to think of ourselves as traveling ‘on the fly’

- picking a country and going -

there can literally be months 

of pouring over guidebooks, 

planning itineraries, 

adding 

then subtracting 

then adding back again 

destinations and points of interest to be included,

comparing hotel and flight prices

and standing in the luggage aisle at your local retailer 

talking yourself out of the latest suitcase 

with multi-directional revolving wheels -

as if the container that held your clothes and accompanied you for weeks

in Spain, Wales, Scotland or England

 isn’t good enough anymore because it’s got ‘wear’.

Then before you know it, 

you’re vacuuming the house, 

dusting one last time so your dog/house sitter won’t shame you on social media,

trading in dollars for Euros and Pounds

and paying the last round of bills 

so if you die in a blaze of glory -

during a plane crash or from driving round the bend on the wrong side of the road -

your kids will have a bit of breathing space 

before the bill collectors start hounding them 

for money owed.

 ~~~~~~~~

Things are about as squared away as they’re likely to get.

I took a deep cleansing breath as I left work

and all that’s left 

is mulling over what to wear on the plane 

and what shoes to take.

I already know that comfort will take precedence over style.

 Going to find what the unexplored part of the 41.4% is all about!

There will be drinking involved while I’m there; 

there will be pictures when I get back.

Feicfidh mé ar ball sibh.