I’m currently waiting for Dan to determine what will work for him when it comes to luggage. If it’s difficult for me to manage carry on only with a winter trip, it’s even hard for him: men’s clothes are just larger! And heavier. So he is attempting to make the pack work, but if not we will both move to wheeled luggage and check the doggone things.

There are advantages to checked luggage, I know. I just hate the thought that they could be lost and we’d have to cope. I’m not good at coping! But the handy thing is not having something on your back that makes you a wide and heavy load. Especially when one has an injury.

Yes. I’m talkin’ bout me.

A while ago (more than a month at this point), I realized my left shoulder was hurting. Badly. I can’t put my arm behind my back. I can’t raise it in certain directions either. I have to use my right hand for things that normally were left hand tasks. (Heck, I went to wave at someone and forgot to use my right hand. I moaned in pain.) When I had to be “wanded” at the John Wayne airport I put my arms out as instructed but I nearly cried due to the pain. When the injury first happened I looked up my symptoms. Dr. Patty (hey, that’s me!) determined it was a rotator cuff injury. Several friends who’ve had this said it takes a LONG time to get over it. Sigh.

I can still wear my pack, but Dan will have to help getting it on and off for me. So I suppose I can look at whatever choice we finally make as a win-win. Either I don’t have to worry about getting help with my pack (and further injuring myself), or I don’t have to worry about lost luggage.

Which is worse? A horribly painful shoulder that requires assistance in order to do things, or lost luggage with nearly all your trip belongings? Hmmm. I realize the latter is not even guaranteed to happen, but I’d still go for the packs if it works out.

Stay tuned. We’ll know by Sunday morning.