1.  Planning - Trips are great!  Plane trips!  Road trips!  LOVE TRIPS!  I'll make lists of the things I'm going to take! 

2.  Disbelief - thoughts going through my head might include, but are not limited to…

     a.  Who decided it would be fun to go on a trip?  Right now I just want to go to bed (or watch tv or use the computer or eat dinner…). 

     b.  (whiny voice) But I don't like packing!

3.  Denial - If I just don't think about it and pretend I'm not going on a trip I won't have to pack.  This stage lasts longer than all the other stages combined.

4.  Panic - I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME LEFT TO PACK!  I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH NO LUGGAGE!  NO CLEAN UNDIES!  NO TOOTH BRUSH!  I'LL HAVE TO WEAR JEANS TO A WEDDING!

5.  Anger - Aaaaargh!  Hate packing! 

6.  Acceptance - Okay, there is no avoiding the packing.  Must starting packing right now.  (The acceptance stage usually happens very late in the game, so feats of super human strength, speed and stamina frequently follow the acceptance stage.) 

7.  Relief - Ahhhhh!  Packing is done.  This is GREAT!  I love trips!  We should go on trips more often.  This is going to be so much fun!