Fight or flight

I don't sleep much the night before these two journeys to the other side of the world; nor do I sleep on the plane. Packing my life into one suitcase and two carry-ons is a mental effort which, once undertaken, leaves me too wound for rest. Getting ready for a two week trip to China is as complicated as preparing to be there six months. I still pack everything from a Bible to electronic adapters to hiking boots. Just now, I rose from my bed and put a stapler in my suitcase. You need them sometimes when you're doing paperwork, and while they're available in China, it can take awhile to locate one.