Almost All Packed!

OK... I'm just about all packed.  I'm waiting for the last minute to stick in the formal dress that Tiffany gave me to wear on the cruise Formal Night.  Both mom and Auntie Grace are not very happy about having to dress up.

We told them to just wear a long muumuu and hope Princess Lines does not throw out the two 80+ year old sweet looking ladies in their island finery.  They don't own any mainland type formal outfits and we sure weren't going to go out and buy fancy outfits just to wear for one or two dinners.

Here's the long muumuu that mom will be wearing.  My cousin, Joan who is Auntie Grace's daughter bought it for her.  Auntie Grace will be in a white muumuu.  I'm looking forward to seeing them dressed up.

As you can see, my suitcase still has more room.  Mom's suitcase is filled to capacity and she'd still like to bring the kitchen sink if she could.

Tif also gave me this travel bag that she got free and I love it!  It opens up so you can see everything you've got right away and tucks flatter in your suitcase.

I bought that new back pack from Ross because it was only about $22.00 down from some gargantuan amount.  What I like about it is that it's got a broader bottom so it sits upright without falling over.  It's also super light!  That's the best part.

I actually haven't stressed as much on this trip because it's a tour.  We don't often go on tours where everything is handled for you.  I could feel free to pack whatever I want.  Art and I have sometimes used just one suitcase between us.  It's a luxury to have my own suitcase.

I'm carrying one night and day's emergency clothing for my mother and myself in the backpack.  She'll just be responsible for carrying her huge winter coat.  My aunt is a seasoned traveler and has her own travel carry-on.  She's also as strong as an ox and has more energy than a hummingbird.  However, Art carries her carry-on for her.

This is our first real cruise.  Yes, we did do a boat cruise on the Nile, but that was a carry-your-own Intrepid type tour with a younger group of folk.  Then there was that boat and bike thing we did in the Netherlands.  That was also not fancy by any stretch of the imagination.  It was all fun.  But the Alaskan Cruise is supposed to be something where everybody has told us is luxurious pampering. 

Mom has had a head-ache for a couple of days.  She always ends up getting some sort of ailment just before we leave on a trip.  I think it's anxiety.  Once we're on the trip, she has a ball, but the anticipation is a struggle for her and she knows it.  Granted... there was that time we took her to Japan in a wheelchair because she injured her knee two days before we left.  Sigh...

Uh oh...my toe is starting to ache...