Packing, the NEW Olympic Sport

I feel pretty confident in proclaiming myself as the individual who singlehandedly made shopping an Olympic sport. And yes, although the IOC has yet to take my suggestion seriously, I will continue to compete myself and encourage others to compete at the same level as myself- c’mon people, let’s pull outta this recession by showing off our purchasing power and brand new, just for fall, brown suede pumps and black leather boots!*

Anyway, seeing as Salt Lake City was the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, I felt it extremely appropriate to share my Gold Medal Olympic-level shopping skills with the community. On a night off in the downtown area, I perused the shops, admired the new fall lines and, as my dear cousin would say, was drawn to all the sparkling things like a crow. Needless to say, I made a handful of purchases and was equally pleased and exhausted by the end of my run.

Three days have passed since then, and my next Olympic feat was looming in the future…. I had to pack it all in two suitcases! Typically, I travel in my long trouser jeans, a black tank top and my yellow cardigan, along with a pair of high-heeled black sandals. Well today, I went against my better judgment and traveled in a thin dress, black flats and a light cardigan. Therefore, the clunky items I usually travel in were taking up extra space in my luggage today. So with that extra challenge in mind, I had to fit my new purchases in my bag with less space than what I started with. Ready- set- GO!

One hour and 37 minutes later, and a 45-minute extended check-out time approved by the front desk, my bags were both bulging at the seams, but everything was in! I can’t believe that I’m admitting this, but I sort of wish I hadn’t made all of those cute purchases- what was I thinking? Luckily, my handy packing cubes saved the day, and I have a week to get to a post office and ship some of this crap, I mean lovely things, home so I don’t have to pay a large chunk of my life savings to the airline overweight baggage fee.

Best Practice Methodology I SHOULD be using: buy something new, get rid of something old. I have a tough time with goodbyes though, so this is just something I’m gonna have to work up to…. Perhaps I took the Bronze in packing this time around….

*That's for you Ms. Klotzbach.