I want to tell you all about my weekend in Baltimore, but I'm too tired! For now I'll just say that I think travel brings out the neuroses in me (and perhaps in all of us). I've always known that I'm a Checker, but I'm really a Checker when I travel. Is my phone in my pocket? Is my phone in my pocket? Is my phone in my pocket? Do I have my room key? Do I have my room key? Do I have my room key? Is my suitcase zipped? Is my suitcase zipped? Is my suitcase zipped? I'm sure there are people who don't worry about anything when they travel, but I am not one of those people. Also, this was my first time traveling alone with my child and my child's friend, so that added to the anxiety.
I used to be a real pro at traveling, but that was long before I had kids, and even longer before 9/11. In fact, this was only the second time I'd flown since 9/11 (the first was our Disney trip back in '06). So I'm still a newbie to the world of 3-ounce liquids in a quart-size zip-lock bag and all that other fun stuff. Of course everything turned out just fine, and I did indeed have my phone in my pocket, as well as my room key, and my suitcase remained zipped at all times.
I enjoyed being alone in a fancy-shmancy hotel room (especially after the girls left) and was not at all nervous about that. I always get a kick out of trying out the shampoo and lotion, seeing what's in the desk drawers, looking at the room service menu, and all that. I think if I traveled more often, I probably wouldn't worry about the details, but you never know. Perhaps a Checker is a Checker no matter what.
I check to make sure the hotel room door is locked. Over and over. Ugh.
Posted by: Elena | March 07, 2010 at 09:30 PM
I traveled so much for gymnastics that I had to let go of some of that. (but not all) My main worries were the cell and when I went to Africa the PASSPORT. You can easily get a dup room key; believe me I know!! I am still excited to stay in hotel rooms, just to check out the TV and the shampoos. Bellingham wasn't too exciting, but it was still different from home.
Posted by: Margaret | March 07, 2010 at 09:34 PM
I travel with the 3 kids by myself quite a bit and usually my main concern is that I am going to lose one of THEM (it was much easier in some ways when they were in the stroller and I KNEW where they were!) Although 2 years ago were about to miss our flight and it was the LAST gate in the terminal in Atlanta, I said to the kids "mom is going to run, just stay together and catch me at the end" - we still missed the flight, but that was an adventure for them!
Posted by: Kathy | March 08, 2010 at 07:52 AM
I am an awful traveler when it involves getting on a plane. Nervous nellie doesn't begin to cover it. But Ativan seems to help nicely!
Posted by: Rachel | March 08, 2010 at 09:06 AM
Karen, I too am a Checker but only because previous to becoming a Checker, i was a LOSER--I am the person who swears i put my ID in my front pocket and now it's GONE, omigod, what am i gonna do, oh wait, here it is in my back pocket.
So now I Check all the time.
Posted by: amy | March 08, 2010 at 02:16 PM