20 Weeks to Preparedness Program

I have been reading with fascination the articles in the paper about the “20 Weeks to Preparedness Program” from Homeland Security. Each week, the local paper prints suggestions of items to gather for your disaster supply kit. This week, the list includes: duct tape, toothbrush and toothpaste, bleach for water purification, canned meat for each member of your family and contact lens solution. Seriously, who compiles these lists? Have then ever considered posting them in categories? Maybe there is a dollar limit on each week and they divide items up by value.

As I scan the list each week, I begin to feel a little paranoid. It appears that I have all these items already. What does that say about me? I mean, the kids already kid me about how their dorm rooms were the medical supply source for all their friends. I thought I was doing them a favor when I sent them to college with two of everything: Band-Aids, Rolaids, scissors, tape, cold remedy, stomach remedy, headache remedy, wart remover (you never know), etc.

Now that we live 25 miles from the nearest grocery store, my pantry resembles one of those “Disaster Bunkers” that I see on T.V. or the basement of someone on “Extreme Coupons”.  I feel a little "over stocked' when someone looks in my pantry and says, "Wow!"

When I travel, my children refer to my cosmetic bag as the “magic bag”. If you forgot to pack it, I have an extra in the magic bag. But if I'm ever on a deserted island and have my magic bag, I'm going to make the other survivors green with envy.