Those nagging voices can be valuable pre-travel companions

Last week I went to a weekend meeting in Houston, and I didn't hear the voices. I'm not talking about the voices that result in a quick call to the men in white. I'm talking about the ones that speak up when you're about to go on a trip. They ask questions like: Do you have your passport? How about your photo ID? Did you feed the cat? (A stupid question since I don't have a cat. But I digress.)

The voices suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. They repeat the questions over-and-over, like precocious preschoolers, until I search my bag or call home and find the answer.

Those little voices save me from minor disasters on a regular basis. Like the time they asked the burning question, "Did you leave the iron on?"

A quick call home proved I did; a kind neighbor saved the day and possibly my house.

But on my trip to Houston, the rascals never said a word until I checked into my hotel. Then they spoke up, "Oops, did you forget your billfold?"

There I was in Texas on a Friday night. No ATM card. No credit card. Only $5 in cash. And nothing open until Monday.

Ellyn Bursiek heard the voices, but she ignored them.

"I had an uneasy feeling something was missing," said Ellyn, when she returned her rental car to the Denver Airport. "But I was rushing to catch a flight and didn't check very carefully."

When she arrived at security, Ellyn realized she had left her computer in the car, and it apparently drove off with a new owner.

Psychiatrists tell us, those voices often know what they're talking about. And you shouldn't be in a hurry to turn down the volume. But there are ways to anticipate the questions and answer them before it's too late.

Plan ahead. Before you travel, make a schedule of everything that needs to be done before you go. Be thorough. Susie Dail has several copies of a master travel list. She uses one for each trip. She includes everything right down to turning off the lights and locking the door. Before she leaves she checks it off.

Make a packing list. Write down everything you need to take. Leave a copy in your suitcase with a contact number in case it gets lost. My old flying partner keeps a second copy in her carry-on that includes phone numbers for banks, doctors, pharmacies and credit card companies. She keeps a picture of her passport and other important documents with her as well. And she checks it before she leaves home.

Stay prepared. If you travel often, consider keeping a bag packed with the things you need. Some frequent fliers have a separate travel wardrobe and a set of cosmetics that remain in their suitcases. Jean Cowden keeps her passport, travel documents and a list of last minute things she needs when she travels, in her carry-on. When she's ready to travel, she checks the list, adds the extras and she's ready to go.

Listen for the voices. With crowded airports and confusing security lines, it's easy to forget something. Take your time and listen for the voices. Sometimes you have to speak first. Sometimes they speak so softly you can hardly hear them. I try to never leave home without them.

Gail Todd, a free-lance writer,worked as a flight attendant for more than 30years. She can be reached via e-mail at gailtodd@aol.com.