LIFE IS A LONG PREPARATION FOR SOMETHING THAT NEVER HAPPENS*
Before a trip, my brain kicks into overdrive months in advance. I start with mental lists of things to remember, sticking little virtual post-it notes all over my gray matter. One of the ones I stuck up more than 8 months ago for the trip we’re leaving on this week read “Get Karin’s passport renewed” and the little post-it note was only JUST wadded up and thrown away a couple of days ago. I start early doing this because it gives me plenty of time to prioritize and remember things: get prescriptions filled, register to have the mail held, buy...