By: Kem Browning and Elizabeth Pond
Posted: November 3, 2025
Kem:
The typical me is packing at the last minute, the nth hour before another exciting travel adventure. This time, I vowed that it would be a very different packing experience…that is, I decided to pack well in advance and not wait until the last minute and stress myself out. With great effort, this time I did it! I was so proud that I had achieved packing success early. I was super organized and ready for a new travel adventure!! I had more time to leisurely learn about the destination. I even placed my bags in my car the night before to save precious moments given the early departure. To make sure I did not forget my coat, which I would be carrying on the plane with me, I placed it in my car’s passenger seat. There was no way I was going to forget my coat!! Heading to Europe in winter, a warm coat is THE most important item. I was sooo ready!!
Then I made a rookie travel mistake. I changed the plan last minute. I know better. I kept waffling between driving myself to the airport or taking Uber. I had to be at the airport by something like 3am and that was definitely not the best time to be contemplating last minute travel plan changes. But I did it anyway…bleary eyed and still half asleep, I changed my mind from driving my car and ended up ordering an Uber. As the Uber approached me in the way-too-early pre-dawn, I removed my bags from my car and off we went. I was even regaling my triumphant early packing feat with the Uber driver… I was smug in the fact that I had really done it this time. I had everything packed, organized, and there was no travel stress as we were about to embark on a new adventure.
I continued to pat myself on the back all the way to TSA security where I spotted my travel buddy. I was still confident with my packing prowess until I saw someone put their jacket on the scanner. All of the sudden, my oh-so-confident feeling imploded…oh no! …Where was my coat??? Yikes! I had left THE most important winter weather travel item at home, safe and secure in my car!!!
Liz:
I caught up with my fellow ASU OLLI travel companion at precheck in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. She is a seasoned traveler who has been on a number of trips with me and is usually over prepared for our adventures. If you're going to forget something, she most likely has two or knows how to get whatever is missing in whatever country we are jetting off to this time. She also has a pulse on the currency, best exchange rate, mode of transport to the hotel, local customs and everything else one needs to know before they go. In fact, she has even sent me “know before you go” notes before a trip and almost always has memorized a few phrases in the local language. This person is the ideal travel companion and princess of preparedness.
I half waved to her and smiled the best I could from my zombie like state given this very early morning flight. My lopsided sleepy grin was met with a frown. I was very focused on clearing TSA so I could devour a large coffee, but found this grimace uncharacteristic even at this early hour. I lugged my bags and thick jacket onto the scanner convinced that everything was heavier in the early morning. On the other side I caught up to my friend and travel buddy still looking out of sorts. “I am going to have to buy a jacket!” she announced.”We are going to Germany in the winter and my coat is in the back of my car.” We have time to go back to the parking garage, I was thinking, when she efficiently read my mind and followed with, “only I decided to take an Uber this morning.” I replied with a useless, “oh no!”
After a large coffee for me and tea for my distraught friend we were able to initiate our problem solving skills and see the humor of the situation. She was so prepared that she even thought to put her coat in the car, unintentionally abandoning it when she opted for the Uber in the dark for the early morning departure. Her lonely coat sat in her car at home in the garage while she was whisked off to the airport. Things could go two ways. She could sit frustrated with her very human mistake and stress over something that would find a fix eventually. Or she could laugh it off, problem solve and hope the solution was not too expensive. We refused to let this put a damper on our trip!
Kem and Liz:
We developed a plan for Project Coat. The shops were not open in Phoenix to buy a coat and options were slim in this warm weather climate, so we would search the airport at our connection. If our connection ended up being too tight we would layer with the warmest thermalwear and sweaters with the addition of my rain jacket. I brought both a rain jacket and a warm coat because there was supposed to be rain not snow our first few days on the trip. This would give us time to buy something in Germany if needed. We chose to laugh about our predicament and worked together to find an inexpensive solution. We remained light in spirit.
Liz:
I can relate to leaving Phoenix without a coat because I have made this mistake not once, but 4 times. We only need a coat maximum three months out of the year in this part of Arizona so it's not always top of mind. I only forgot the coat once, the other three times I consciously left without the coat because I really thought I did not need it. Let's be real, coats are heavy and I travel light. Perhaps too light, as I am now the proud owner of not one, but 3 additional unneeded somewhat expensive jackets I don't love, but purchased to stay warm when my innocent coat hung lonely in my closet at home. How did this happen to a seasoned traveler like me? A surprise trip to Mount Fuji on a Tokyo trip. I had warm clothes but not Mount Fuji-warm. A New York trip where I underestimated the power of the wind whipping around the buildings. My personal favorite, a cruise to Greenland where the weather said it would not fall below 60 degrees, but boy is it cold cruising through glaciers in the sound. Yup, underestimating the need for a jacket is my weakness, my Kryptonite. And because of this I had overcompensated by bringing two jackets to Munich in the winter. This time it was just enough to keep Kem warm and return years of travel extras she has sent my way.
Today' s Travelin’ Light Highlight / Travel Tip - Even when you're Travelin’ Light, always pack the coat in or with the suitcase. And if you're debating whether or not to bring the coat, bring it or be prepared to buy one. Finally, once you have a plan, stick to it, no last minute changes that could knock you off your travel game!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Kem Browning is a travel adventurer as well as an avid ASU OLLI fan. She has explored over 50 countries in her travel adventures and is planning to add another 4 or 5 more countries in 2025 including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Lapland, and Finland.
Kem is currently semi-retired / self-employed as an airline consultant. In the past, she worked at American Airlines as Global Account Manager which allowed her to fuel her travel addiction and fly to many amazing destinations.
Liz Pond spent over 25 years leading Sales Teams around the globe with American Airlines flying for both work and personal fulfillment. She has been to over 100 countries and continues to divide her time between world exploration and accessibility advocacy. She believes we have the opportunity to enhance lives through positive accessible travel experiences.
Liz is a UCLA graduate with a degree in Sociology and Urban Planning. She also has an MFT from University of Phoenix and earned her Global Leadership Professional designation from Wharton School of Management and Darden School of Executive Education through University of Virginia. When she is not traveling Liz devotes her time to UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) of Central Arizona where she has joined the board of directors to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their full potential.
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