I turn into the mother of all demogorgons while planning a trip

BENGALURU: There comes a point before a vacation where I lose all sense of objectivity… and well, sense. After all, there are work deadlines to complete, leftovers to finish, milk deliveries to cancel and socks to pair up. No one ever seems to have enough underwear and my children seem to have a growth spurt exactly one day before we leave, rendering all clothes too tight or too short.  Can you blame me if I turn into the mother of all demogorgons?

I snarl and snipe my way through the last few fraught days, striking things off lists and biting heads off bodies until, what’s this? Light at the end of the tunnel! We’re almost ready to go. The bags have been packed. The older boys clothes have been handed over to the younger boy. And the older boy has been told that ankle skimming trousers are all the rage in Parry’s (I leave out the Corner.)  Things almost look like they’re going fine, until it’s time to pack medical supplies for the trip.

If you’ve ever lived in Europe or America, then you will have seen the queues at supermarkets the day before Christmas or Thanksgiving. People with trolley loads of food, toilet paper and fake candles shopping as though they were preparing for Armageddon and not a family holiday. Seemingly unaware that indeed stores will be open the day after, and yes, tampons will be available.

Well, I can kind of relate. From the way I obsessively pack medicines for trips, one would think we were going entirely off the grid in some kind of Bear Gryll’s style expedition and not … well Goa.
First, there are the basics: fever, cough and cold syrups, inhalers, bandaids, mosquito repellant and ointments for cuts and bruises.

You’d think that would be enough. But no. By now, my brain, fried from planning what you can make with half a cup of leftover sambar and palak paneer begins imagining the worst. Should we take the nebuliser? I know he hasn’t had an attack in 4 years, but WHAT IF? We should definitely take 10 sachets of Enerzal incase we get dehydrated.  Oh, and let’s take this giant jar of Ayurvedic chyavanaprasham we bought in Kerala two years ago and have NEVER used in case the kids get weak from all the trekking and sight seeing. They might need a pick me up.

Should we take the deworming syrups just in case? I’ve been meaning to give it to the boys for the last 6 months now. We can do it on Sunday when we’re all relaxing at the resort. Oh, and let’s take this set of Flower remedies for restoring balance and mindfulness. Get a ziplock bag for the Wintergreen oil from Coorg. Oh, that crepe bandage too please incase we sprain something, You know, I think we should take the nasal spray and the sun block spray too. Put them in separate covers clearly marked because if we mix it up, we’re going to be sorry.

What’s this? Just a little something incase we get a UTI from using public toilets. You know you don’t always hover and pee. Right that’s it then. We’re covered. Giant bee attacks, virulent flu strains, muscle pulls, loose motion, constipation, conjunctivitis and gingivitis. Now, where did that other polka dot sock go?