Ms. Pack Man

I'm pretty good at packing. Every time I pack a suitcase, I pack it more efficiently, effectively, and wiser than the last time. I remember my first suitcase. It was green, red, yellow and blue, meant for little kids, with wheels and a handle. I used to pretend it was a Hoover vacuum, and I would "vacuum" the carpet of the elevator in my Dad's apartment building as we waited for it to climb the eight floors. I really grew to enjoy packing (maybe not for every weekend, but for other trips and adventures). I would always leave it up to about 8:00 the evening before I left, when the sun was down but the day wasn't too heavily invested into the night. I would lay out freshly laundered clothes on my bed and put them in my suitcase just so. I never felt like I was forgetting anything, and I would always have the smallest and lightest bag.

So, naturally, packing for Barcelona should be no big thing.

"Ha, oh yes, no, I plan on taking one suitcase, midway filled, as well as a backpack to carry onto the plane with my paperwork, some toiletries and a change of clothes. Oh, what's that? You're taking two enormous suitcases? And a carry on? Oh, how droll!" --Me about 48 hours ago.

What a douchebag. We've come a long way from packing up our trusty Hoover vacuum, people. No more pleasant 8:00 Packing With Adrienne. No, no, gentle reader. The house has been turned into a war zone as I've snatched up what I'm taking and left the rest for casualties. Piles of clothes and Spanish/English dictionaries explode out of the cushions of the couch, and the dining room table has become a POW camp for abandoned art supplies. I have to get up stupid early tomorrow to finish it all up.

But beside all that, I finally have one suitcase, weighing just over 40 pounds. I have several well-assembled piles of important documents and miscellaneous belongings waiting for me around the house to grab before I go. I kind of, kind of have things under control. Kind of. I just can't shake the feeling that I'm forgetting something. Or lots of somethings. And not just "Damnit, I forgot my pink tee shirt!" but like, "Damnit, I forgot my pink tee shirt and my visa, my computer, my cell phone, my plane ticket, the directions to my sister's apartment, and my wallet."So, yes.  I am currently packed in one suitcase, But at what cost?

I don't know, maybe it's just my anxiety. I guess I just didn't expect it to be that easy to pack for Spain. I mean, packing to live in a foreign country for almost four months? Where if you leave something at home, it is not getting shipped to you. Where if you need more of that thing you're going to have to find your way in the city and figure out how to get it using a different language and a different currency. And, really? After I shovel a few extra things into that enormous bag I'm done? Huh.