We're probably not going to have much notice before setting out on our journey to greet our Marines when they return stateside. I'm going to have to have a check list to make sure I don't forget anything, and I thought I'd share it with you. This is certainly not all-inclusive; it's just what I could come up with on the fly. Many of these things can be pre-arranged to help keep the last-minute details from adding stress to your travel.
Don't forget to print out a MarineParents.com Name Tag to wear! Click for Name Tag
Pre-Arrange the Following:
Travel plans, maps, phone numbers
Car checkup: oil change, tire pressure, etc.
Get prescriptions filled early
Mail/Newspaper delivery and/or pickup
Pet care and/or pet boarding
House sitter and/or house keys to the neighbors
Inform your neighborhood watch association
Portable Office & Communications
Address book and phone numbers
Lap top computer
Lap top cords, battery, mouse, phone cord
Cell phone & battery
Cell phone charger, car charger, internet adapter
Electrical power strip
Extra batteries
Cameras and Video Equipment
Digital camera, storage cards
Regular camera, film, flash
Video camera, cassettes
Electrical power strip
Extra batteries, chargers
Medical and/or Special Care Needs (Prepare these items ahead of time if at all possible.)
Inform hotel and airline of any special needs
Prescriptions, vitamins
Special care items
Special dietary items
Contact lens care items, spare glasses
Extra batteries
Entertainment to Pass the Time (I'm going to assume down-time is very likely. Be prepared to entertain yourself or if you're traveling with kids, bring things to keep them occupied.)
Books, magazines, reading material
Paper, pencils, crayons for the kids
Pens, journals for the adults
Portable games, gameboys, deck of cards
Extra batteries
Pack Your Suitcase (Indeed, I have to have a list of what to pack in my suitcase, but I also need a list when I go to the post office to buy stamps.)
Comfortable shoes
Comforable clothes
Socks, undies, pajamas, robe
Toiletries
Extra batteries
Items for Your Marine (Okay, so this is the most useful tip on this page. Your Marine has stored all civilian clothes and may not have immediate access to them. If you have clothes and/or shoes for your Marine, you will get an extra hour of hugs. My son will also want a pair of contact lenses.)
Civilian clothes and a pair of shoes
Clean socks and undies
Contact lenses and/or civilian glasses if you've got them
