Karachi-trip shopping list:

Vitamins C, E, and Calcium- For healthy immunity, skin and bones.

Mosquito Repellant- For the preservation of sanity and dignity :::scratch scratch scratch:::

Anti-Itch Cream- Because mosquito repellant never works anyway.

Bar of White Chocolate- To keep up troop morale during said shopping excursion

Warm Fuzzy Chenille Shawls [2]- For the aunts

Suits For all Unmarried Girl Cousins [3]- The rest [14] were married off a long time ago.

Boardgame- Risk. To pacify and amuse the beloved Mongol hordes (nieces and nephews)

Chess- To pacify and amuse myself while simultaneously boring Aniraz.

Strawberry Ice-Cream Cone For Daddy– Returning yesterday’s favor.

Dental Floss– To fix hole in last suitcase in the house. The rest [8] are currently in circulation abroad.

Wrapping Paper– For aforementioned gifts, purple kitties, pink flowers, yellow smileys

Obnoxious Eid Cards- Bus karo, aur kitna khaogay. Eid ka din, kya hospital jaogay? Translation: Stop, how much more are you gonna eat? You planning to spend Eid in the hospital or what?

Toothpaste– Momma sez: brush your teeth every day or they will fall out and decay.

Disposable Socks- I don’t expect any of them to make it home anyway.

Sweaters- because it’s cold at night.

Summer shirts- because it’s still hot in the day.

Antacids– Pakoras pakoras pakoras. *urp*

Bandaids– go three weeks without hurting myself? Yeah, right.