AAACK - last day.

9 am
Got up. Ate left over curry for breakfast. Did I mention that Mom had an awesome Indian dinner for me and a few friends on Tuesday for my birthday/bon voyage. She and Chris outdid themselves - Chris' samosas were particularly noteworthy. Since I haven't shopped for about 10 days, this is what I am living on.

2:30 pm
My plan was to pack last night and then use today to buy anything that was missing. I did a prelim last night and it all seems pretty under control, so far, no last minute purchases required. I did call Val this morning and bribe her with Mom's left over butter chicken to come over tonight and make sure I am not missing anything too vital.

So, other than adding a few things now and then as I think of them (such as undies, that would have been unfortunate) I am doing little projects. For example, Air Canada sent me an email asking if I want to pre-check in. Sounds good but it involved printing, so I had to set up my printer. I had also read that one of the ways that thieves steal your stuff in India is to cut the strap of your bag from your shoulder and grab & run. So for my next project, I sewed a hook onto my small purse and my satchel so that they will be attached to me via mini carbiner even if the strap is severed. Smart, eh? Hopefully I won't have to let you know if it works. Another project; I wrote up address labels for postcards so that I don't have to carry my address book. Now I am drinking coffee and watching tv.

Last day project

4PM
a few more things added to the pile. Hmmm. Starting to look like alot. Remove two shirts. I want to be able to fit EVERYTHING in one bag so that I don't have too many bags hanging off me when I am on the move.

The pile

It all fits but just barely.

9:50
Val came over at 4:30 or so. She went through my first aid bag and used her nursing skills to convince me that fungus or a cold will not kill me so I don't need to bring stuff for those. Out went the eye drops, cold medicine, anti fungal, one of two antiseptics, half of my moleskin. I forwent the bathing suit and the extra bag - yes, one less bag. Then we went to the mall for a few things I needed; more mosquito spray, a glasses case and snacks for the plane. Mosquito spray good, snacks, no problem. Glasses case, not so easy. So now I am bringing my extra pair of glasses in a sock. Now my stuff is all packed, the carry on stuff is in the carry on, the checked stuff is in the big backpack, the purse stuff is in the purse.

Chris came over later to eat some left over rice pudding. By this time I had had two glasses of wine so I am kind of tipsy as I write this.

I still don't really have a plan for when I am there. Judy and I discussed a road trip for the first week or so and then a blitz trip to Delhi. But after that it's up in the air. I was going to tell you about my stolen travel philosophy. One day I was driving and listening to CBC. When I turned on the radio there was a woman speaking to Sheilah Rogers about her first trip to India. I have no idea what the subject was or who the woman was since I missed the beginning and the end. But she was talking about how she knew she wanted to go to India and experience the spiritual aspects of the country. She went to a talk with someone who had lived there and was giving a lecture on something or other. She went up to the microphone and asked him if he could give her some suggestions of where to go or Ashrams to visit. His answer to her was 'follow the pretense of accident'. She said she had no idea what he was talking about but it hit me that this was the perfect attitude to take. What ever is going to happen is what I will experience. Plans tend to get muddled there anyway, so I will follow the pretense of accident. (I just googled that phrase and here is an article about the woman, Sharon Salzberg, and the advise giver, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, if you want to know specifics - beware the super annoying music).

Now I am going to hook up the dishwasher and go to bed. I will have to get up early but just to tidy up. I think I am ready - knock on wood. I have saved one last portion of left over chicken curry for breakfast, Val took everything else in the fridge that was perishable.

8:30 AM
Just hanging out waiting to go. I was up at 6:30, did some laundry, planted some bulbs in the garden, tidied my room - sort of (side note, I found my glasses case but the sock takes up less room). Bag is packed, carry on is ready. Last of the left over curry is eaten and bowl washed. I guess this is it.

The next time I post anything, it will be from India. I don't think I will be able to upload pictures but I'll try. Look at Judy's for now. Thanks to Chris, Paul and Lea & Makenna for cat visits. And, just in case you were worried, Paul has offered to pick me up when I get in. We'll talk soon.