Smooth Sailing - Day 1

Nothing says Happy 31^st Anniversary like taking your only daughter across the world to travel around Europe. Sounds pretty nice, huh? It would if your day didn’t involve last-minute packing, realizing that the suitcases weigh 48, 49 and 57 lbs, and leaving 30 minutes late to get to the airport. Not to mention one spouse is overly concerned about the schedule that the flight will be serving dinner and the other is constantly overanalyzing what we may have possibly forgotten. I’ll let you guess who has been doing which…

Other than that, it has been smooth sailing. Got through customs easily and with no line. Walked down to the correct terminal, and saw some lady get called out across the room by some angry flight attendant for some unknown reason. Great start so far!

But some things that might help your future flight go even easier, please remember to:

1. Eat and drink something before you leave. No matter how stressed you are with your last minute packing, don’t forget to eat. There must be something about traveling that people like to starve themselves. Or at least for any trip I’ve been on this summer… Even if you’re too nervous to eat, make sure you drink something. But then again, there is nothing tastier than a $3 bottle of water at the airport.

2. Don’t wait until the day of your flight to finish packing. This day should be reserved for easy-going, tiny little last minute packing. Because when you find out that your suitcase is 7 lbs over the limit, there is nothing more stressful than trying to decide what you don’t need half an hour before you’re suppose to leave for the airport.

3. Take your shower earlier than 5 minutes prior to leaving. A shower should be a de-stressor, not an additional one.

4. No matter what it takes, make sure that you can bring your cell phone with you. If you’re anything like me, you have now lost your means of communication, watch, alarm clock and calendar. Not to mention the countless times you frantically check your pockets and surroundings in search for the item that you don’t have with you anymore for the next four months. Besides, it will make your 3 hour wait for your flight go a lot faster rather than sitting around staring at a wall. Or worse.. actually talking to your parents.