Notes from April 27 2023: I try to savor the “before-trip” vibe, the very pleasant low-level buzz of excitement about what’s coming up. The anticipation is half the fun (with almost none of the effort!). Unbelievably, I am already pretty much packed–crazy for a confirmed lifelong day-before-or-morning-of luggage packer.
I’m trying to set a personal-best for packing light. We’re going to be there for two weeks, in all kinds of locales, conceivably all kinds of dress codes if we want to do a fancy dinner or two, plus what if it’s hot? Cold? Raining? As it happened, I never did use the tie lol but I was glad to have a couple of fairly respectable shirts.
Last night Robert helped me negotiate the Japanese gov’t website to help us “speed” through customs & immigration. The site is as confusing and bizarre as anyone could wish for. But now I have a couple of potentially useful QR codes saved on my phone. Job 1 when we land at Narita is to get our rail passes, that should be amusing!
I’m totally stoked, but still a little worried about my energy holding up through this—I’ve just finished a year of cancer treatment and I am still feeling it, but I hope I can just suck it up as always and somehow plow through. Jet-lag worries me a bit, mostly on the energy front.
Can’t wait to get to Japan!!! But first stop is Chicago, where I’ll meet up with Robert (flying in from Boise), we’re going to have a fun afternoon downtown and then head to the O’Hare Loews hotel and of course a sick dinner at Gibsons—our final American-style meal. I just love that place: it always feels like the official kick-off to an adventure. At home, my bedside book currently has a Gibson’s business card as the bookmark 😀
The afternoon beforehand in Chicago should be fun, I just hope it isn’t freezing cold. Will spend all day carrying my backpack, another incentive to pack lightly! Wow this is gonna be an adventure!
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