With my Thanksgiving plans (flight, airport shuttle, etc.) firmly in place, I am now able to focus my energy on trip preparation, which is one of my favorite things. But how much prep can possibly go into a direct flight from LA to Columbus, OH? How much lead time do I actually need for a trip that is two weeks away?
Lots, and all of it.
First I need to decide what book(s) I’ll be taking along. If it’s a big ol’ monster novel (The Brothers Karamazov, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell), what do I leave out of my carry-on? Do I skip the notebook? The Flip cam? My sunglasses? If it’s a tiny little thing (The Pleasure of My Company, A Wild Sheep Chase), what’s my backup book? I’ll change my mind about these books on a daily basis.
Then I have to figure out what I’m going to read before the trip. I am compelled to start books fresh when traveling. I like to begin at page one while I’m in the shuttle, or sitting at the gate, or waiting for the plane to taxi out. I am also compelled to finish any book I’m reading before I can start another, so unless I want to reread everything I’ve already plowed through before the day of my trip, I need to plan my reading habits carefully.
This process can last days or weeks. Everything else (clothes, haircut, putting the mail on hold) is negligible.
