Scared Shitless

Suitcases OR How The Hell Do You Pack For This Sort of Adventure?

/ Gardy Loo Pismire / Leave a comment

So, did you know that airlines are changing the size bags that they allow their customers to check and if they are more than 61 inches (LxHxD … including wheels) they are going to start charging more? I learned this the other day when flying Southwest Airlines and found out that the airline will now charge an extra $200 for a bag larger than 61 inches starting May 28, 2025.

As you know, I sold my house and am starting a world adventure house sitting and everything I will need for this trip…my entire life…is in two suitcases. One was a slightly larger than 61 inch bag and the other is a carry on. Two months ago I bought a nice big suitcase (Big Blue) for my trip to Thailand…guess what???…it is too large to fit the newly imposed 61 inch rule. Not only that, Southwest broke the handle on my carry bag on from my flight from San Jose to Nashville. When I went to complain I was handed a card with a QR code and told to take pictures and use the card to start a claim. Unfortunately, the Southwest baggage personnel neglected to tell me that you had to make your claim within four hours of claiming your bag from the carousel. Seriously, how many people are going to start a claim immediately upon being given a card after a long day or two of flying? Seems like dirty politics to me.

I remember well when checked bags were flown for free and I have wondered why the flying public has allowed this to happen to us. I mean…YOU ARE FLYING SOMEWHERE AWAY FROM HOME…of course you need to bring clothes with you as YOUR CLOTHES ARE AT HOME. You are buying an airline ticket for a trip that involves being away from home and everything that you own is there. Why are we being forced to pay baggage fees on top of the price of a ticket?

This trip has proved a rude awakening for me as it has already cost me $350 for luggage and/or fees. If this continues I will be walking to South America. Already, I discarded clothes three times before leaving trying to par down what I was taking. Believe me, trying to decided what to take with you when you travel to places still unknown is vexing….I will be in some very cold, very hot and all places in between kinds of places for the next year and already I have had to buy three suitcases through no fault of my own. In addition, the first leg of my trip on Delta from Medford to San Jose cost me an extra $100 in addition to the normal bag fee as my bag was 10 pounds over the weight limit which was not the case when weighing it on my bathroom scale.

Since my new suitcase is smaller than Big Blue, I spent today removing more clothing including a pair of socks, two pairs of pants, a pajama set, a belt, Flonase, a secondary razor, various toiletries, and six shirts. At this rate I will be flying naked wrapped in the same Saran Wrap that is often used to wrap the luggage. That said, Saran Wrap is probably not an option either as I will be over the 50 pound weight limit and will be charged accordingly.

I don’t know when it was that the airlines conspired to take the fun out of flying but with extras for food, booze, suitcases, seat assignments and the like; it seems to me that its time to try something more efficient and consumer friendly… like a horse and buggy.

I Am Scared Shitless Today Too!

/ Gardy Loo Pismire / Leave a comment
Screenshot

Okay, I kind of feel that this is ridiculous… a 64 yo woman in a panic. I mean, what on earth is there to panic about? I am selling almost all my worldly possessions; including my beloved house. And then on May 15th; I will be homeless living out of one very large pale-blue suitcase. Yet, that is when the Grand Adventure is suppose to begin, traveling overseas and housesitting… even though there is no schedule or no concrete plan and despite the fact that will not know a soul. I find that I am flogging myself on a daily basis for taking Russian in high school instead of something practical like Spanish. And I am getting anxious just contemplating how to even pack for such a life-changing event. For instance, how many pieces of underwear does one need in this situation and why is footwear so heavy? These are the things I am preoccupied with lately, so tell me, what could go wrong?

Apparently everything, according to my mind which has begun hissing at me and inflicting immense doubts which are creating a whiteout in my brain as big as the blizzard to ’42. It fact, the numerous death scenarios which are making regular visits inside my head include:

  1. Getting run over by a donkey (and what is the significance of getting run over by an ass anyway?)
  2. Riding in the back of chicken truck that swerves off the road and plunges down a ravine
  3. Being swindled out of everything by a man with a hypnotic accent and delightful hands
  4. Not remembering how to scream out the words for “HELP!” or “POLICE!” and instead saying something on the order of “Your goat smells like old cheese!”

Meanwhile, I am watching cartoons in Spanish and joining language immersion apps hoping that I will learn Spanish in record time. Yet, more often than I like to admit, I forget whether I have already taken my pills and call my kids “Hey, You!” so I don’t get their names wrong. Frankly, I am beginning to believe that old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” might prove to be my unwanted and unintended self proclaimed motto.

But then, somewhere in the middle of this chaos, it hits me that I am starting to live my life authentically. That I am trying to new ways of thinking, finding new dreams to reach for, and that I, alone, am responsible for crafting a life that I can be proud of. And this I know: I don’t want regrets. Too many people wait for “the perfect time” and forget to wind the clock casting a stillness that settles over a life like a moth-worn blanket that is full of holes. I don’t want that kind of life. I want to take chances. I want to live and love with a freedom that I have yet to experience in all my 64 years. I am demanding of myself a life that is real, deep, and meaningful. A life that my kids can tell their kids about and whisper my stories to them so they can be inspired to be courageous and brave.

My garage sale is this Saturday. My lamp, the one I bought when I was 22 and broke, will be in the fray. I hope someone who needs to illuminate some corner of their life buys it and finds what they are looking for. The books I have read … I hope that the words provide comfort and curiosity to the reader in order to stir their imagination. And my old Yamaha guitar that I have had since I was 13 and on which I taught myself to write songs.at age 59 .. may it find its way into the hands who can make it soar. But most of all, if you come by please don’t nickel and dime me to death for each item. For everything I am disposing of has a story and great meaning to me and in some small way has made me the woman I am today. A woman who is afraid to step out but is still going to do it anyway. No more playing it safe for me.