THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501140002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: George Hebert
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
In some situations, it's not just the relentless list-makers, like me, who find themselves compelled to jot down long strings of reminders.
One such is in preparation for a trip.
Many annoying bits of forgetfulness over the years have resulted in quite a trip-list for my wife and me. Whenever - out on a trek somewhere - we find we don't have something we should have brought along, either for convenience or absolute necessity, and which cannot be replaced easily or at all, that item goes on the list.
For example, we may have found ourselves in a motel, trying to put together a late-night snack, but with no knife to cut the cheese to put on the crackers. Ergo: ``Kitchen knife'' becomes an item to remember.
We've found it's all too easy to wind up in distant parts without Band-Aids or aspirin, so there's a home-made first aid kit that we remind ourselves, via the list, to take.
A highlighter pen is handy for marking maps, etc.; a magnifying glass doesn't require much room and can be handy for examining those same maps; a pocket flashlight can be even more useful. All these have been set down.
Most articles of clothing can be thought of pretty easily while packing. But a few such items can be overlooked in the rush. The oversights could be a nuisance. Hence, entries like ``slippers'' and ``swim wear'' (for some possible occasions) and ``ear muffs'' (for others) can make sense.
With so many contingencies now covered, when we head out these days for a spell away from home - and if we force ourselves to take the time to check the list, of course - we can be almost certain of having everything we need or want. Almost.
Prior to our recent holiday-season junket west and north (similar to a winter-driving venture a year earlier), our catalog of reminders got a most methodical going-over.
In addition to notations mentioned above, we obeyed such commands and reminders as: ``Pay bills ahead;'' ``copy of car insurance policy;'' ``scissors;'' ``rubber bands & paper clips;'' ``matches'' (blizzard precaution); ``coffee cup;'' ``guide books;'' ``alarm clock;'' ``crossword puzzles;'' all kinds of things right down to ``plastic bags'' and ``nail clippers.''
So I couldn't help feeling smug when I was about to make a final check of the faucets for drips, and to follow Donna to the door with lock-up keys ready for a shipshape exit.
It was just then that I happened to look down for some reason and discovered there was no belt in the trousers I was wearing. MEMO: Mr. Hebert is a former editor of The Ledger-Star.
by CNB