flight risk

It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how excited or how wonderful the trip ahead of me is, about a week before I am set to leave I get in my head that if I get on the plane, something terrible will happen. I'm not scared of planes, trains, cars, etc. It's being unavailable for a period of time when they make you turn your phones off and knowing that to get back to wherever I need to be will take much more time and effort that I might not be capable of given the situation.

From my travels (which are not plenty) I've realized that I am one of those terrible itinerary people. I need to know where, when, how and why for all actions leading up for me to get on the plane, train or car. This was a problem a few years ago when I was heading to Killington, Vermont for a ski weekend where I was left without my answers. What was supposed to be a relaxing, stress-free birthday trip, left me with extreme anxiety and a miniature explosion from my boyfriend at the time who boasted, "Why can't you just let me handle it?"

So now, a week out of leaving for Charleston, South Carolina for Memorial Day the excessive list making and planning begin. Let me share with your some of the humorous steps I will go through: I will obsessively charge my phone, ipod and kindle. I will list of every item I need to bring and access which are deemed "southern appropriate." I will completely lose my appetite three days before my flight and live on coffee alone. I will read and re-read my plane itinerary 50 times convincing myself that I booked the wrong time or place. It's absolutely embarrassing but I've come to learn that I can't do anything but help balance out the stress with a good dose of humor. I know I'm ridiculous but at least I can laugh at myself.