Rushing out the door
I’ve been inspired by a post on Michele Neylon’s blog about packing in a hurry. I’m sure we all have had similar experiences and I have certainly had quite a few.
One still sticks in my mind though.
Back in 2000, I was working as a consultant for a Cork based company and most of the work was based in the U.K. One particular week I was being sent over to London for a 4 day training course on a particular piece of software. I was due to fly over on Sunday from Cork and back again on Friday.
On the Saturday night was a friends stag night and of course it dragged on to the early hours. I remember leaving early-ish as I had to be up early in the morning. The next thing I can remember is my mother waking me up as I had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room.
“What time is your flight?” She asked. “7:45″ I replied.
“You have to check in at 6:45 so?”
“Yep” Said I as I rolled over for another snooze.
“You better wake up now as it’s 6:30″
I was up like a shot and ran upstairs to pack my bag. Within 5 minutes I was out the door wearing the same clothes that I had been from the night before with a baseball cap added for good measure. I made it to the airport in record time and as I was flying business class they allowed me to check in even though the flight was due to leave in 30 mins. I ran to the departure lounge and made it on to the plane. (back then, if your return journey was under 5 days from your departure, you had no choice but to fly business class. Suited me fine as I wasn’t paying. 
)
I was just after settling into my seat after take off, looking and feeling very much the worse for wear when it dawned on me. What had I packed? Did I pack the training manuals that I needed? Did I have everything I needed? Nothing much I could do about it as I would have to wait until I got to the hotel to find out.
About two hours later after getting my hotel room I opened my bag to discover that I had packed the training manuals alright, but I had also packed 5 pairs of boxer shorts, about 10 pairs of socks and two shirts! That was it other than the stinking reeking rags that I was already wearing.
A few hours later, and about £200 lighter after a trip to a shopping centre I was finally ready to face into the week. I made a solemn pact with myself that from that point on I would always pack the night before.
That pact never lasted. Still to this day I find myself rushing around packing before heading out the door. I guess there are some experiences I just can’t learn from.
Anyone else have any similar horror stories?
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I now keep a bag packed for emergency overnight stays.
My last trip in a ‘Nee Naw’ taught me a good lesson. The Cardiac team would not waste time allowing me gather anything. My Pills, mobile phone and my keys and that was it. They checked all windows were closed and locked up.
For my stay in hospital they gave me two of those paper gowns. One to wear back to front and the other one over it front to back. They also supplied a toothbrush and toothpaste. I survived to tell the tale!
That sounds like an awful experience Grannymar. I hope it is one that you don’t have to go through again.
Robert – I have a recurring nightmare of having to pack in a hurry and in desperation, trying to decide what to bring. I’ve just re-lived it with your story!
I think, like Grannymar, it goes back to having been rushed off to hospital with a flashing light and no time to grab any essentials. These days I keep a ready-made list handy so that the other half only has to follow the instructions!
I keep promising myself that I’ll pack properly, but no matter what I do it never quite happens
At least this last trip I remembered business cards and “goodies” – I’ve been known to arrive at conferences without either
Not good!
Michele
I think it’s impossible to remember everything Michele,
On Saturday just gone I drove my mother and her partner to the airport. We were only gone a couple of miles when my mother said “I wonder what we forgot to pack this time?”
No matter how well prepared we think we are, we will always omit something!
I’m an organistion freak with lists for everything. I start my list about a month before trips and start packing about 2 weeks before a trip. Sad eh? lol……..just cant help it, please tell me I’m not the only one…….
As sure as the sky is blue you can be certain that there will be at least one thing that we will forget! It just depends on what that one thing is!