It's a satchel.

If you're a Mom, then you've been a pack mule. You've gone to the amusement park or on a hike and haven't enjoyed yourself because you are carrying your own water bottle as well as three jackets, two suckers, (one partially eaten) a camera, a sword (a stick that your 4 year-old won't let you throw away) the map, a brochure and a half eaten lunch. And that is just what is in the right hand.

I am a mean Mom.

There, I've said it. I'm not carrying anyone else's stuff. Carry your own water bottle, hat, sunscreen, snack, gum, Chapstick and kleenex. I've got my favorite travel bag and now everyone else does too. I gave Drew one for his own personal use - he is the middle child so I don't need to tell you it is the best day bag we have.

He tried it on and it felt good. Dave told him that he liked his purse. Drew responded, "It's where I keep all my things. I get a lot of compliments on this. Plus, it's not a man purse, it's called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one."

Borrowed Pajamas

It occurred to me that 4 of the 4 people that are remotely interested in this blog may wonder about my unusual fixation with taking just one carry on bag during our coming 5 week crusade. The other 4 I don't think really care.

So for the four that wonder 'what's the obsession with one small carry on?', I have 11 reasons.

1. SLC - Detroit

2. Detriot to JFK

3. JFK to London Heathrow

4. London Heathrow to Tel Aviv

5. Sharm el Sheikh to Luxor

6. Luxor to Cairo

7. Cairo to Rome

8. Rome to Venice

9. Rome to London Heathrow

10. London Heathrow to JFK

11. JFK to SLC

11 flights, 11 opportunities to lose your luggage. Yep. I checked it out. Delta loses 6.7 out of every 1,000 bags and British Airways is even worse with a whopping 26.5 lost out of 1,000. (I can only guess about the airlines in Africa.)

I know what you are thinking, the odds are in our favor. It doesn't seem likely that we'll be the 6.7 out of 1,000 people that lose their luggage and I would agree. EXCEPT that Drew went without his bag for 3 days in Germany and had to borrow pajamas from our hosts - humiliating. A week later, Scott and Dave were one of the 6.7 as well when they went without their stuff in Italy for 3 days, sleeping in the nude so their sink washed underwear could be bearable by morning.

Have you ever tried to find your bag, following instructions written in Italian, calling an automated phone system in Italian? Have you ever spent the mornings of your vacation sitting by the telephone hoping that someone will call saying (in Italian) they are bringing you your bag? If you say, 'No big deal', then you must speak Italian.

No matter what happens to the 6.7, I'll have my 1 dress, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 shirts, and my underwear. No borrowing pajamas for me! Power to the people!!!