”Just in case is the curse of packing.”
Some days seem just perfect. Yesterday was one of those. I had my uke lesson, and it was fun playing new music. I got gas, seemingly a mundane task, but the sun was shining, and the trees were gently swaying. I was glad to sit and watch. I stopped at the dump on the way home and chatted with the man who always helps to empty my trunk. We both loved the weather. I also stopped for a blood test, a common event. I was the only one there, an uncommon event. I got home, and it wasn’t even noon yet, a boon. Even though I only did mostly errands, I felt quite content. It was just one of those mornings when everything fit.
Friends are coming for dinner. This doesn’t happen often. I have my shopping list and my flow chart. My house is clean. The floors are sparkling, and for the meanwhile, the spiders’ webs are gone. I have yet to prep the dogs. That will be the toughest task.
Before I left for Ghana, my mother and I went shopping. I was packing for two years. I had a list of suggested items. I was allotted eighty pounds of luggage. We had to buy two sets of sheets and a couple of towels. We bought dresses because women wore dresses in public. We bought cotten underwear, packages and packages, as was suggested. The list of toiletries was long. I had a couple of pairs of sandals. I had pictures of my family. I brought a couple of books. I remember one was The Autobiography of Malcolm X. My parents bought me luggage, an Instamatic camera and slide film. The luggage was red. I had to send the film home to be developed as there was no place in Ghana.
It didn’t take long to realize how useless the list had been. It said not to bring spices as Ghana had plenty. The only spice Ghana had was hot pepper. I brought too many clothes. Ghanaian cloth was beautiful and inexpensive. Seamstresses charged little. Within the first six months, I wore only dresses I had had made. My sandals fell apart in the heat and humidity. I had them resoled in the market. They used pieces of tires for soles. I left tread marks. My deodorant caused boils. I could buy shampoo and toothpaste. We got a medical kit. I didn’t need to empty the drug store selves. I had an umbrella. Ghanaians only used umbrellas to be protected from the sun. I never used mine. I had an alarm clock, but it was unnecessary. The roosters crowed, and in the early morning, my students swept the school compound outside my window.
Well, it is time to get a move on. I have company coming!
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
September 5, 2024 at 2:53 pm
Hi Kat,
Yesterday we had lots of rain and today is partly cloudy with a high predicted at only a cool 88°. I’m sure the heat is not done with us yet. We have had triple digit temperatures in September.
Last night, I was awakened by an old crown that came loose in my mouth. A few years ago my dentist repaired it with a post. I’m surprised it lasted this long. Well, the real repair is another implant. By the time I reach my expiration date, I will have put several dentist’s kids through college, or paid for their boats. Probably both. 🙂
I never overpack for a trip. Today there are Walmarts everywhere. Once we went to an all inclusive beach resort in Mexico. We had been there year before. My better half was packing as if we were going to the moon. I reminded her that a few blocks from the resort there was a Walmart store.
September 6, 2024 at 1:55 am
Hi Bob,
We never reached 90° all summer, but we did come close. We will probably stay in the 7o’s now. The nights get cooler. We were outside on the deck but had to come inside to eat as it got too cold though I had a fire going in my chiminea.
I’m still stuck with two teeth which have to be pulled. They’ll come out when they start to hurt. I’m not looking forward to that.
Where I have traveled has no Walmart, but I still pack lightly. I always leave room in my suitcase for whatever I buy. On my first trip back to Ghana, I had to buy a duffel bag to hold all the baskets I bought.