Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Les Vacances

Anyone who knows me, knows:

I am a last minute packer,

I love to travel and

I do not like to fly.

I pack very little clothes and a ton of unbelievable useless things.

At 1Opm, I started to pack, where is that little lamb? We leave at 4am.

 

My Father called late in the afternoon and asked if I had packed?

I said, "Uh no."

I could hear him smile when he said, "Of course you haven’t, that is my Corey, it is far too early to pack, you have hours before you leave, why waste your time packing now!"

Of course, I took that as the highest compliment!

Who needs to worry about packing… when a black tee-shirt, a black sweater and a pair of jeans will do?

I should heed to such wise wisdom. But I love my bee outfit, and my black bow shoes, and the hat, how can I leave without the hat!

photo: Of those dang little vintage paper dolls, they pack easily, you know!

Comments

47 responses to “Les Vacances”

  1. naturegirl

    You’re a girl after my own heart! I too leave packing until the last hour and then frantically throwing together all that I need! What I don’t pack I just buy during my travel! The unpacking I love! I am travelling next week..
    shall I begin packing?

    Reply
  2. Jeanne

    Blessings to you dear friend and safe journey.
    I love to hear about your ventures.
    You leave me with smiles and my heart is always full of love!
    Be well my friend.
    Blessings!
    Love and smiles across the miles.
    Love Jeanne

    Reply
  3. Shannon

    I’m a late packer too!!
    Have a safe flight.
    I’ll be in touch 🙂

    Reply
  4. lLee

    Bon voyage!

    Reply
  5. gracia

    Hello there fellow late packer,
    “Me too, me too!” she exclaimed from the other side of the screen, from the other side of the world.
    I always pack at the absolute last moment… it must be nightfall and the bed must be littered with discarded clothes and piles of things that need to be stuffed in a bag/case/or zippered compartment.
    Safe journey, take care, gracia

    Reply
  6. mary ann

    late-packer, early packer>>>what does it matter as long as you are packed!
    safe journey corey!
    🙂 mary ann xo

    Reply
  7. gracie

    I have written some great songs when I was supposed to be packing!!!! (anything to procrastinate the inevitable tedium).
    Bon voyage Corey!

    Reply
  8. Cat

    Alright! Throw those blue jeans and black shirts in the bag and have a wonderful trip!!! Forget what you need and take what you don’t and buy along the way! The only way to go!
    Love your post.

    Reply
  9. susan@artstream

    ah rainer and i always joke about packing… it is never on time and never with things we need.
    you have you … that’s all you need…hoping for a grande voyage!

    Reply
  10. katie

    I’m sure you have all you need ….. and much of what you want, Take care, safe journey, have fun
    x

    Reply
  11. blackbird

    I start packing two WEEKS before we leave. I pack for four of us and I invariably forget something like:
    one person’s underwear
    the toiletries
    or
    all the socks!
    So, you see, it doesn’t matter that I think I will do it well if I start early.

    Reply
  12. Paris Parfait

    Dear Corey, didn’t we have this conversation a couple of weeks ago? You said you should think about packing; I thought you were joking about actually waiting until the last minute! But by now you’re on the plane, headed West. I’ve already said Bon Voyage; will be looking forward to hearing more about your California adventures. Adorable post, by the way. So you, with a capital C!

    Reply
  13. jennifer

    I can just imagine you packing! Too adorable a picture in my mind.

    Reply
  14. Gena King

    what a lovely post! I hope you have a wonderful time,and your pics are just too sweet!

    Reply
  15. Ulla

    Corey, you are on my mind — may the birds fly you swiftly and the bees keep you company… Happy adventures ahead! Lauren and I Can’t wait till you arrive!!!

    Reply
  16. carolg@PB

    Another late packer 🙂
    Go light – come back overloaded I say!
    As long as you’ve got a few black things=no problems
    Bon Voyage

    Reply
  17. Colette

    Bon voyage once again, dear Corey.
    And thank you for regaling us with this adorable paper doll.
    xox

    Reply
  18. AnnieElf

    I so relate, Corey! I take too much in too small a bag and then inevitably leave something behind. This last time it was my favorite nightgown, drat it.

    Reply
  19. jinxthegypsy

    Have a safe journey 🙂

    Reply
  20. amber

    Oh, I am also a lite packer. Go basic. So much easier. You can buy anything you need when we meet in Chico! 🙂
    🙂

    Reply
  21. candy

    safe journey. i know now why i find you irrestible – you pack a lamb.

    Reply
  22. arttealife

    Off to WIllows !
    So near !
    So far !
    wah.
    Thinking of you. Safe flight.
    BEE sure to see Lisa – teach her computer stuff…
    That old scaredy cat.
    Love, S.

    Reply
  23. susannassketchbook

    No wonder you’re having a hard time packing – you’ve lost your head! Well, at least you’ve packed a lunch. That should keep the lambs content during the plane ride. Have a great time in California, Corey! (I’m guessing that’s where you’re going). Looking forward to reading all about your sunny adventures…

    Reply
  24. andrea

    Have a safe trip! Your going to need a vacation after all of your preperations!
    a.

    Reply
  25. Mrs.Staggs

    A safe journey to you Dear Corey! It will be lovely to be with your parents and see those funny brothers of yours. Oh and to go flea marketing with Ulla and Lauren! What a wonderful time you will have!

    Reply
  26. Sarah Scott

    Have a wonderful and safe trip!

    Reply
  27. Josephine

    Safe travels!

    Reply
  28. Kristen Robinson

    Safe journey Corey – only wish I was going to be up north or you would be more south!

    Reply
  29. Kit

    Bonne Vacances Corey.
    I’m yet another late packer – most of the essentials you can’t pack early cos you’re still using them, easier just to throw everything together at the last minute. Anyway it’s true, there are very few things you really can’t do without if you forget them. Have a lovely time!

    Reply
  30. mikaelah

    I love your packing tales. I also wait until the last possible moment … and take two weeks when I get home to unpack…Have a lovely trip!

    Reply
  31. marybeth

    ((COREY))
    I just ADORE your packing priorities!
    who needs lots of clothes when you have a hat like that! =)
    Prayers for safe and enjoyable travels
    XO
    MB

    Reply
  32. Rebekah

    Wheeeee. Sounds like the perfect way to approach going on holiday. I hope you will have a magical time – and remember to take us along.

    Reply
  33. meredith

    I am thinking about you flying over the ocean today. I hope the trip went well. Another couple of weeks and i’ll be following you through the clouds, and I won’t be packing until the night before, either 🙂

    Reply
  34. Anne

    Packing =)
    One of those fun little chores, before going away, that has to be done, and no one really wants to do it.
    I used to travel back and forth between Seattle and Pittsburgh with 4 small children in tow. That was a packing nightmare. (Of course my ex husband was always too busy to help)
    And as practical as you would like to be, there are just some things that have to go with you. Things other people would never understand. But isn’t it the itty bitty insignificant things in life, that truly make it a joy?

    Reply
  35. deirdre

    Ugh! Packing. I always bring too many clothes, then get angry with myself when I have to haul it around and unpack when I get home. I like the simplicity of just enough, no more, no less.

    Reply
  36. Catherine

    I’d love to see more of the quilt in the background. Enjoy your travels

    Reply
  37. aisha

    Corey
    My prayers are with you
    I wish you a safe trip

    Reply
  38. stephanie s

    i was thinking of you today, knowing you were on your way… safe travels corey, i look forward to hearing of your adventures.

    Reply
  39. Beth

    Have a great trip. I love your lamb. I packed a set of jacks for my last trip, but unfortunately had no time to play with them. Next time!

    Reply
  40. jann mumford

    I may have to re-evaluate my packing strategies…

    Reply
  41. diana

    Happy trip to you !!!

    Reply
  42. la vie en rose

    happy traveling dear friend!

    Reply
  43. Linda

    I am a very inprecise packer usually packing the night before. My priority is books. I never want to be hundreds of feet over the ground or sea in an airplane without anything to read. My husband and I recently did a 3 month trip involving alot of flying and he figured out that we were in the air a total of one week–and I had something to read for all of that. That doesn’t even count the time waiting to boards, waiting for luggage, etc, the part I hate the most.

    Reply
  44. Catalina

    Happy holidays Corey!!!! Have fun! bring a lot of things.:)…the kind you can not find in France (but my husband will tell you that you can find eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeerything in Paris…..:)……)
    A bientot! We are going to miss you a lot!

    Reply
  45. cruststation

    Have a great holiday back home in California. Love that you included us all in your adventure, last minute packing, the farewell from little paperdoll girl, how sweet!

    Reply
  46. weirdbunny

    I love those paper dolls. I can pack last minute too.

    Reply
  47. simple me

    Hi Corey,
    What you say about packing and travelling is absolutely familiar.
    I simply adore these paper dolls.
    You have so many beautiful things surrounding you.
    Have a wonderful holiday.
    Bjs
    Paula 🙂

    Reply

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