Tennessee Visit

Friday I leave for Tennessee (via air) for a visit. As many of you know, I was to have been moved there by now but circumstances beyond our control on many levels, held that up. But, I'm heading down for a visit and then driving back with Shelly and the girls for Christmas! It is going to be so wonderful to have the entire family here for the holiday. All the grand kids together on Christmas morning opening up presents left by Santa. What more could grandparents wish for?

Since the airlines are now charging for luggage, I decided to ship some of the stuff I wanted to take along ahead via UPS to keep me down to just one suitcase. Actually, UPS was quite the deal and I shipped four boxes. Two taped together on each delivery for about $21. Now, I believe the airlines are charging $20 per suitcase. However, I know I managed to stuff more in those boxes than I would have into a suitcase. As an added bonus, with UPS I didn't have to worry about.....

1. Luggage being checked through security, opened up and rifled through by some strangers.
2. Luggage getting damaged (I have watched as they load and unload luggage...makes you shutter; in addition to luggage arriving with missing wheels).
3. Getting to the destination and finding out that your luggage is missing (with UPS I tracked each shipment until it was delivered and not lost in an airport somewhere).
4. Taking advantage of shipping stuff like yarn, knitting needles, books, gifts, etc. which kept me down to one suitcase. I even shipped shoes which take up so much space in a suitcase!
5. Looking for more than one piece of luggage when I arrive at my destination. (I hate that....watching those suitcases go around and around in hopes of spotting yours.)
6. Keeping the one suitcase down to a manageable weight. My back is not what it used to be.

It was win-win situation. UPS should advertise this idea....especially since airlines have started to charge for luggage. Can you imagine how their business would skyrocket!! Or how that guy on their commercials could have fun drawing airplanes in a circle with a line through them with an arrow over to the UPS sign. See, I should be on a commercial....the ideas are endless!

Also, since I ship my boxes to Riverstone Resort where Shelly works, her co-workers are getting a kick out of watching this and want to know "Is your mother shipping herself one box at a time?" And, I like to include a little treat for them since they have been so nice to Shelly. One shipment had a big bag of tootsie rolls and this last shipment, tootsie roll pops. So, when they see the boxes arrive, their eyes light up in anticipation of their next treat!

Now to get that ONE suitcase packed!