more than a suitcase

It's overwhelming really.

There is so much more about going to America and leaving India, so much more than packing a suitcase (or three or four, five or six as allowed). I wish I could simply throw in some clothes but this isn't so. These are the things occupying our minds and moments for the past two weeks (make that months) as we prepare for our departure (in four days).

1. Arrange a house sitter. We found two bachelors.
2. Have the two guys over for lunch to introduce them to our house helper (who will continue working in our leave--a paycheck is still very much needed!).
3. Explain where to turn on the pump when the water runs dry. And which walls will soak with water once the rains begin. And where to find the towels when the rain comes inside and dribbles down the stairs. And which number to call when the electricity goes out and how the car battery runs like a generator when the power goes off. And where the tea leaves are for chai.
4. Arrange envelopes of cash/rupees so the two guys can hand off our rent to the landlord. In addition, other envelopes of cash to pay the: garbage boy, street sweepers, cable man, and newspaper boy.
5. Libby to make a sleep sack for Shane so we don't fight others for an airplane blanket (fatigued mom's do that).
6. Find goodies and surprises to pack in toddlers backpack (aka. Survival Kit for Parents) that don't contain so much sugar he can't sleep but just enough to keep him delighted.
7. Use up all remaining perishable items in the fridge and shelves. The bachelors won't be cooking and the ants/bugs/squishies will be finding new homes on our shelves unless the food is baked, thrown out, or given away.
8. Inform neighbors we are on leave for three months so don't mind the new guys in the house.
9. Hang a line indoors to hang clothes (the monsoons means constant dribbling and clothes never dry when left outside).
10. Contact family and friends with important dates.
11. Schedule events, meetings and etc.
12. Ensure we have car seats when we arrive (though we use them, car seats are not required for children in India, thus we want to be intentional to not break the law during our first hours back).
13. Nail down family functions (since this trip is not a vacation, we have carved out one week with each family for that specific reason).
14. "Kindly ask" the police head-cheese, once again, to grant Lukas permission to leave the country. Mission accomplished (but if he doesn't leave by the allotted time, it's a five-year prison term. Do you think they serve good baby food?).
15. Get visa pictures for Lukas.
16. Buy one more bag of diapers and extra baby food...just in case.
17. Buy luggage tags and suitcases.
18. Book domestic plane tickets, book housing, arrange cars, pickups and coordinator schedules with picker-upers.
19. Design display boards, brochures and handouts, note thoughts and ideas for presentations.
20. Host friends for one more hurrah.
21. Make intentional conversation with Shane about going on a big airplane and sending subliminal messages about what a good boy he is going to be. Doing the same with Lukas though that's usually in the form of pleads and prayers with God to be merciful.
22. ...and yes, pack a few suitcases. That'll come tomorrow. Maybe.

See you soon!