My friend who works in a bank and I are nervous flyers. How nervous you ask?

About a year ago, we started a really morbid tradition.
The day before either one of us is scheduled to fly, we call the other one.

"I don't mean to be morbid," the friend whos is about to travel will say, "but if something should happen...."

What follows is a list of instructions for the surviving friend to complete, from special touches at our funerals to phone calls to deliver parting messages.

My friend's instructions begin the same way every time. He would like a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of gin tucked inside his coffin and an axe he can use to get out. He also makes me promise that I will become a Madonna Symtech girl. I promise although I'm not quite sure what this entails.

It's my turn to fly.

On Thursday, I leave for Minneapolis to visit my friend, Georgia. I call him Wednesday and my instructions are pretty simple - one phone call and a trip to my favorite hotdog joint (D's Sixpack and Dogz) before my lid is shut.

Will provide updates.