I have been adamantly reminding people for months not to get me things for the holiday, or at least, if they must, to get them to me BEFORE the movers took the bulk of my things in crates.   Anything that didn’t go with them must travel in my suitcases, and both of them are beyond full already.  I had to pack 2 months worth of clothing (to hold me over until the crate arrives at my house… assuming it doesn’t go sleep with the fishes) and my hard drives, laptop, camera, etc.  I am a small, stickly girl who prefers to take a single carry-on bag no matter where I am going or how long I am staying, and the thought of lugging two suitcases and my laptop bag through O’Hare airport on one of the busiest travel days of the year kind of makes me want to vomit.

My mom, hearing my pleas, went out and bought me a blanket to take along.

This is how it goes.