Ireland: so close, so very very very very very very far away.

We are leaving in about 32 hours. Here is what I have accomplished so far in the way of getting ready:

• I have purchased batteries for my camera.
• I have purchased a magazine for the flight.
• I have purchased a pad of watercolor paper and a pan of paints so I can paint with my granddaughters.
  
• I have made lists. A lot of lists.
• I have picked out several activities I want to do in Dublin.
  
• I have revised my manuscript, readied it to send out a zillion places, and have sent some packets of poems to magazines via the internets, and have readied other packets to send.
  
• I have a fresh haircut.
• I have a wardrobe concept.
• I have done most of the laundry. I think.
  

Now: I still have to:

• SEND the manuscript and packets.
• before that, address the freaking envelopes for the packets and manuscripts.
• uh, print the manuscript, copy it a zillion times, and print the packets.
• pack.
• not forget things like all the cords I need to take so all my devices can be charged.
• clean up, sort of, at least a little.
• cancel the milk delivery.
• call the insurance company (ha! endlessly deferrable!).
• finish reading Farewell, My Lovely, which I have read before, but I need to have fully refreshed for my book group. Also, because it's fun.
• Decide what other reading material to bring.

Possibly, I may have a meltdown or two before all of this is accomplished . . . but then, I will be on a plane and we will be, eventually, in Dublin. Seeing the papers of W.B. Yeats, seeing other exhibitions of various stuff, eating in a pub or so, having picnics, taking a trainride to the Ring of Kerry, shopping and seeing a movie with my daughter, and making paintings with my granddaughters.