Thoughts on Preparation

Friday, 11 June, 2004 by Cheryl W. Colan

The Boy Scout’s motto is “Be Prepared.” I was a Brownie once, for about six months. I never made it to Girl Scout. I do not prepare. I procrastinate.

I procrastinate by finding fascinating things to do with my time, like building this web site instead of actually packing for my trip. Except for a few tweaks, the travelogue is finally ready. It will be there for mom and me wherever we can access the Internet. It will be waiting patiently to help us share our photos and experiences with our acquaintances, friends and loved-ones back at home. But at this moment I can actually say that the site doesn’t need my attention any more.

And packing does.

It’s not the clothing or toiletries I’m worried about. Where we’re going, the exchange rate is pretty good. I’d be doing myself a favor to buy stuff there, rather than here. No, the big problem is finding the receipt for my laptop. I’m going to have to convince U.S. Customs that I’m not importing it when I return to the States. And since I’ve had it for more than a year and am a bit disorganized, I’m having difficulty finding any proof that I bought it. And how about the digital camera I bought on eBay? The seller never sent me an invoice …

I can’t obsess over this stuff. I’m pretty sure the insurance I’m purchasing for my laptop will prove that it’s mine, and just in case, I’m registering it in advance with my local Customs office. The digital camera is not important. It’s the stuff I do with it that I need to preserve. The camera’s not going to be functional when I’m old, but if I want my brain to be, I need to fill it with good memories.

That is what this trip is about. Finding out about myself. Learning about other cultures. Telling those stories. Making memories.

And the truth is, I’ll never be prepared for what I encounter. I don’t see much point in researching where I’m going, because I’ll see it for myself when I get there. Instead of “getting ready,” it’s much more important to be open. So that’s my goal. To be open.

You know that Buddhist anecdote about the master with the heavy pack on his back?

He’s trudging along up a mountain, really weighed down. A youth stops him and asks him, “Master, what is enlightenment?” The master puts down his pack, stretches his tired back with obvious relief, and lets out a contented sigh.

“Oh!” cries the youth. “I see! But tell me, wise master, what is after enlightenment?” The master picks up his pack and resumes his walk up the mountain.

So. It’s three weeks exactly until I have to leave. I guess I’d better go figure out what to pack …