Packing

Do you remember when packing was fun?

It was two toothbrushes; one home and one away. It was wondering if we would both have the same toothpaste. Again.

It was massage oil, scented candles, sexy underwear, chocolates.

Not just electrical tape, power adaptors and rain jackets.

It was mementoes from our home countries, letters, photos, stories.

It was forgetting to pack clean clothes and buying tourist shirts at airports.

It was not folding but throwing or rolling.

It was wishing we never had to unpack that same bag. Wanting to see those familiar belongings tossed about on a floor of our own.

Not cleared up every Monday morning by room service.

The empty chocolate boxes in the bin. The unwanted shirts left folded for housekeeping staff. The candles long burnt out around the bath tub.