This time I was going to pack smartly and achieve that elusive balance: exactly enough, and nothing extra

“One for Tuesday, one for Wednesday, one for Thursday…” I counted quietly to myself as I placed three pairs of the baby’s socks in the suitcase. This time I was going to pack smartly and achieve that elusive balance: exactly enough, and nothing extra.

I was packing for my niece’s wedding in Lakewood, which I planned to attend together with my two oldest girls and my one-year-old. We were flying Frontier Airlines, so that meant one suitcase for all of us (and it also meant that bringing the suitcase was going to cost more than the flight itself).

After the baby’s things, I moved on to my own. I knew I needed to bring my favorite earrings… and the truth is, maybe my two favorite pairs, because I’d probably want options. Yes, of course: options. Packing smartly didn’t preclude options; options were a necessity. Which is why I also packed both sheitels. Maybe one would get messed up and I’d need the other. Or maybe I’d prefer the one that was a bit longer if I was feeling a little dressier. No need to make those decisions now.

Into the suitcase went the earrings, the sheitels, the necklaces. Into the suitcase went the girls’ borrowed dresses for the wedding, their Shabbos shoes, the one pair of heels I own (because, Lakewood, you know).

I stuffed it closed, picked it up, and sighed. Maybe under 40 pounds if the agent was in a good mood.