The Events of Friday, March 4, 2011

                The weird thing about living in a house, versus an RV, is the fact that one usually can’t hear from one room to the next. Because of this, one awakens and thinks that everyone has deserted the house and you are alone, even though it is not true. This was the case this morning when I woke up from a long and undisturbed sleep. I grudgingly got out of my bed made it before going to shower. I went down to breakfast to find that Uncle Scott was still asleep, so we quietly prepared and started breakfast. About half way through, Uncle Scott came out and we greeted him enthusiastically. We finished breakfast and then got ready to leave for my eye appointment. All my siblings came along to pick up their contacts, and we all came back just in time for lunch. After a delicious lunch of leftovers from last night and a variety of other foods, Mom and I finished trying on my clothes, finding that most of the clothes I had set aside to wear in Europe simply did not fit anymore. So we compiled a list of clothes and other necessities that the girls of our family needed.

                About two o’clock Mom, Uncle Scott, Caitlin, Lindsey and I went to Target and Old Navy for clothes and then back to Target to return something that we had found a better variety of at Old Navy. Back home we found that Mrs. Herscowitz, one of our housesitters, had visited. We were disappointed to have missed her. We finished some laundry and, then, with great anticipation, we removed our newly purchased suitcases from their boxes. This was a momentous occasion and such a momentous occasion requires some ceremony. So we also gave names to our companions (our suitcases) for the next five months.

                I went upstairs with Beverly, my suitcase, and spread her out next to everyone else’s suitcase. Mom then explained how we were going to pack, and we began to do as she said as she explained again. Lately Mom, Ben, and Lindsey have not been feeling very well, and Lindsey suddenly felt very bad in the middle of packing. We sent her off to bed and then continued packing her suitcase. We finished packing our suitcases completely. We needed to pack enough for five months in Europe, so we were amazed at how much we could fit into a 22” carry-on. It is very comforting and reassuring to have this task completed. Now we only need to pack our backpacks and we will be all set.

                Happy to have accomplished so much, we went downstairs and prepared dinner, a lovely meal of crispy chicken, rice, yams, and cookies. After dinner, Ben joined Lindsey in the world of sleep while Mom repaired holes in clothes and the rest of us hung out with Uncle Scott. Finally, we went to bed in our own beds and drifted off to sleep.