Travel, in and of itself, can be cathartic. Kate, you'll be so busy having fun that most of the time you won't even think about your mother. Don't deny yourself this trip because you know your mother will be impossible when you get back -- if you deny yourself something that means so much to you, then she's already won and will forever strangle you.

Remove the noose. And find someone else to care for your dog, so you don't have to tell your mother you're going until after it's fait accompli.
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