The frantic power walk from room to room, the housecleaner-level organization and sparkle, the overthinking about what to pack—I forgot how frazzled I get before a vacation. And this is just a mini three-day trip! Would you be my sounding board? Here’s the current list of what I’ve packed: three pairs of thick socks, three pairs of pants, two sweatshirts, a long-sleeve shirt, three undies, and my swimsuit.
I’ll need to cook the English muffin dough in the morning. The plants are watered, the laundry and dishes are done, and Dave will take the garbage out tomorrow.
Of course, there’s always that nagging thought: Don’t let the internet know you’re leaving your house empty. But I trust you guys. Besides, there’s nothing of value here. Good luck getting the TV off the wall before Cora and Luna from next door start barking their heads off, our family of neighbors gets alerted, and you stumble out the door clutching scratched vinyl records.
Just kidding—only one record is scratched, and honestly, it adds a cool ‘60s remix vibe to the music.
Right now, this couch, this blanket, and the quiet are pure bliss after today’s whirlwind. At one point, four young girls were playing Nintendo Switch—not exactly harmoniously—while outside, Dave and I screwed more boards into Evelyn’s playhouse and played referee.
During a rare quiet moment earlier, Dave asked, “Do you remember what it was like six years ago?” I chuckled, having had the same thought earlier this morning. There’s something about the contrast that makes me deeply grateful for both those childless days and the chaos of now.
In a distracted moment, I checked out Ober Mountain again, curious about our upcoming trip. Seeing a warning about sledding tickets selling out, I hurriedly purchased an unlimited pass for Dave, Evelyn, and me. Phew! That was close. It would’ve been a major bummer if the main reason for the trip fell through.
I’ve also been adding restaurant reviews for Gatlinburg to my Apple Maps “Guide” section. I picked up this trick from a seasoned traveler: do your research ahead of time so that when hunger strikes, you can pull out your phone, save time, and avoid rash decisions.
I was worried I only had tennis shoes for the trip but then I remembered my insulated Sperry boots—small victories! I’ll still need to buy a jacket and gloves, though. Worst case? Sweatshirt-on-sweatshirt layering and socks on my hands. If I can’t find anything, I just might go for it.
Alright, I will wind down a bit more with an episode or two of “What We Do in the Shadows”.
See you in Tennessee! Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 