Packing it Up: Texas Style | Fort Bend Focus Magazine

Mr. Kaminski loading me up – cheerfully – for a brief two-day stay in the Texas Spring.

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher

I’m an adventure girl. I’m always up for a quick getaway, and when I say quick, I mean as long as I have a minimum of two days to plan said wardrobe, accouterments and assignments, I’m in. But, as much as I love a quick jaunt to virtually anywhere, preparing for a relocation – however brief – is not a simple feat.

Mr. Kaminski does not understand this. Mr. Kaminski does not possess the level of preparedness that I maintain during virtually every moment of every day. I’m a momma so whatever you might need, I likely have in my purse, my car and definitely in my desk drawer. My personal belief is that is the distinct difference between a male and a female, but that’s a lengthy debate for another day – or month – or perhaps decade.

While the shoring up of work, household, child, volunteer, accounting, medication management, security, transportation, reservations, staff responsibilities and the like is a daunting and never-ending task in departure preparation, packing is akin to an Olympic sport in my world. It takes great dedication, preparedness and skill to get it right. Above all else, it takes time and dare I say a varying degree of talent. And it all begins with the one factor that can and will change in a matter of 30 minutes in Texas, especially in the Spring: weather.

Any Texas woman worth her wardrobe knows that traveling February through May in the Lone Star State requires apparel fit for two distinctively diverse climates: frigid and frightfully hot. That’s just how it is. I didn’t make the rules; I just know how to successfully style accordingly to the rules.

But the rules can make packing tricky for those unskilled Texas travelers, those who hear the words “Spring Break” and pack only tank tops, shorts and flip flops. Oh, the naivete, or as we say in the south, “Bless their hearts.”

I tend to disregard the term “pack light” as a general rule much less in the Spring as it completely negates my mantra of preparedness and quite literally cramps my style. Mr. Kaminski has become accustomed to my blatant disregard for frugality when it comes to my travel accompaniments and as such, does not utter the useless phrase as he knows it only aggravates me. Aggravation in advance of a four-hour car or plane ride typically does not bode well for Mr. Kaminski. Turns out loading up multiple bags and suitcases is indeed a miniscule price to pay as opposed to pouring diesel on a slow burning flame. And they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

So, as I prepare for an upcoming weekend girls’ getaway, I’ll continue packing a plethora of stylish seasonal looks complete with bags filled with sandals, boots, hats – both felt and straw – jeans, capris, sweaters, swim suits, coats and capes because when I pull out of my driveway, it will be a glorious 70 degrees. When I arrive three hours west, who knows what the tempestuous Texas temperatures will be – but I’ll be prepared.

See y’all next week – on the porch! And don’t worry about bringing a blanket if it’s chilly – I’ll have one handy for you.

Patti Parish-Kaminski