My friend J is prepared for everything. We affectionately call her "Mom" because she is incredibly thoughtful and remembers all the little pieces of daily life that we overage adolescents of HK have a tendency to forget- tissues, tylenol, thank you notes, etc.
J has been exploring Asia over the last several months and staying with me between jaunts to India, Nepal, Laos, Bangkok, Burma, and Bhutan. J is the ultimate houseguest- she makes coffee in the morning, runs errands, does dishes, and brings home mint chocolate chip ice cream- Amazing. But I am most grateful for the extended tutorial in packing which I've enjoyed over the last three months.
Initiation happened 7s weekend; we stumbled out of the south stands to J's apartment to sort through old clothes, books, beauty products, and lord only knows what else. It's a blur but three days later, she emerged. Her life downsized from 12 types of suntan lotion to 2 and ten bottles of cold medicine to none. It was an important first step.
Before her India-Nepal-Bhutan adventure, she sat on my living room floor, and we debated the merits of dresses, running shorts, purses, and pain pills. We made sure that J was prepared for trekking in two bags, which she could carry herself. Several hours, outfits, and glasses of wine, later, J was on her way.
The crowning moment came last night. In less than twenty minutes, daydress, sportswear, swimwear, and evening clothes for three weeks in Bali were slotted into their appropriate pockets. Guidebooks, medication and toiletries were prepacked and all she took was a carry on.
I can only hope that Wednesday night as I frantically pack my bag, I can focus on such concise and exact packing.
So let's see, guess I don't need the blackberry charger in the desert, right?
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