"You know I love ya more than my luggage!"
quote from the movie "Steel Magnolias"
First, I just want to mention that I am praying and thinking about all those people down south that are suffering because of Hurricane Harvey. I have a nephew living in Austin, Texas, but he seems to be on the edge of the danger--kinda in a more safe area than most.
I'm discussing luggage today. What??? you say. Yup, luggage. Sis-in-law Nina and I are planning our yearly get-away, and my big suitcase is trashed.
I have a history of luggage mishaps. The first time I ran into problems was about eighteen years ago. Sister Judy, two of her friends, and I decided to go to England. Having never flown or traveled extensively, I wasn't sure what kind of bag to take. Natalie, one of the friends, was well-traveled and her choice was a suitcase-on-wheels model. I stupidly opted for a large rectangular duffle bag thingy. (never take a duffle bag thingy, especially if you are a woman -- they are bulky and heavy). Once we were in the UK, I soon found out that slinging the strap over my shoulder and trying to carry forty-five pounds of clothes in the darn thing was a major problem. So, I went into a little English luggage shop and bought one of those portable, fold-out wheeled contraptions (it kinda looked like those grocery carts that old people put their bags on and pull home from the store). Then I headed to a bike shop and was able to buy some bungee straps. I strapped the duffle bag thingy onto the wheeled cart. Tah dah! I officially looked like a homeless person, shuffling through the train stations. To make it even more pathetic, I needed to buy an additional small bag to hold my souvenirs and that, too, had to be strapped onto the mountain of luggage I was hauling around.
Over the years, I have bought suitcases (my Jenna even bought me a set at one time), because my late mother-in-law (Little Ma) was always taking us girls on fabulous trips. But airplane people and bus-line people and train-line people who load luggage have a tendency to really toss and slam suitcases around. Damage happens. The year Little Ma took us on the Alaskan cruise, we were leaving a hotel. My group's luggage was being loaded onto a bus. As I stood there, I saw a suitcase wheel go flying across the sidewalk and fall into the street. I remember thinking, "Somebody's gonna be mad when they find out they've lost that!"
I sure was! Fortunately, we were going shopping in Victoria, Canada, and I found a luggage shop that was having a sale. Got a good case for thirty bucks Whew!
I've had near misses, too. Like the time I got one wheel stuck in the gap of elevator door. Lucked out on that one. Thank goodness it didn't break.
Two years ago, when Nina and I were heading to Vegas for our four-day escape . . . um . . . I meant to say "vacation", and I put my case on my bed, loaded it with all my stuff, and set it back on the floor. Hubby carried it out to the car and put it in. (no rolling around) When we got to the airport, he took it out of the car and, guess what? One wheel was just about broken off! You see, I had lent it to my darling granddaughter when she went to France on a twenty-one day trip. She didn't notice that it had gotten broken on the very last leg of her trip. Well, I made do. There was no time to replace it.
I prayed that it would last until I got it loaded on the plane. After arriving in Vegas, I prayed that it would last until I got to the hotel. Sigh. Three and half days of not worrying and not having to deal with rolling it around. Then, when it was time to go home, I prayed it would last long enough to get back to Cedar Rapids. It did. See, prayers do get answered.
Last year, Nina's daughter, Sara, was kind enough to lend me one of her bags. And this year, Little Ma is coming to the rescue again. Even though she is not with us anymore, she seems to still be giving and giving. I am borrowing one of her pieces of luggage for this next trip.
Anyhoo, that is my strange, long-winded luggage story. I'll let you know if I have any mishaps on this trip and I have to bring my clothes home in a garbage bag.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
quote from the movie "Steel Magnolias"
First, I just want to mention that I am praying and thinking about all those people down south that are suffering because of Hurricane Harvey. I have a nephew living in Austin, Texas, but he seems to be on the edge of the danger--kinda in a more safe area than most.
I'm discussing luggage today. What??? you say. Yup, luggage. Sis-in-law Nina and I are planning our yearly get-away, and my big suitcase is trashed.
I have a history of luggage mishaps. The first time I ran into problems was about eighteen years ago. Sister Judy, two of her friends, and I decided to go to England. Having never flown or traveled extensively, I wasn't sure what kind of bag to take. Natalie, one of the friends, was well-traveled and her choice was a suitcase-on-wheels model. I stupidly opted for a large rectangular duffle bag thingy. (never take a duffle bag thingy, especially if you are a woman -- they are bulky and heavy). Once we were in the UK, I soon found out that slinging the strap over my shoulder and trying to carry forty-five pounds of clothes in the darn thing was a major problem. So, I went into a little English luggage shop and bought one of those portable, fold-out wheeled contraptions (it kinda looked like those grocery carts that old people put their bags on and pull home from the store). Then I headed to a bike shop and was able to buy some bungee straps. I strapped the duffle bag thingy onto the wheeled cart. Tah dah! I officially looked like a homeless person, shuffling through the train stations. To make it even more pathetic, I needed to buy an additional small bag to hold my souvenirs and that, too, had to be strapped onto the mountain of luggage I was hauling around.
Over the years, I have bought suitcases (my Jenna even bought me a set at one time), because my late mother-in-law (Little Ma) was always taking us girls on fabulous trips. But airplane people and bus-line people and train-line people who load luggage have a tendency to really toss and slam suitcases around. Damage happens. The year Little Ma took us on the Alaskan cruise, we were leaving a hotel. My group's luggage was being loaded onto a bus. As I stood there, I saw a suitcase wheel go flying across the sidewalk and fall into the street. I remember thinking, "Somebody's gonna be mad when they find out they've lost that!"
I sure was! Fortunately, we were going shopping in Victoria, Canada, and I found a luggage shop that was having a sale. Got a good case for thirty bucks Whew!
I've had near misses, too. Like the time I got one wheel stuck in the gap of elevator door. Lucked out on that one. Thank goodness it didn't break.
Two years ago, when Nina and I were heading to Vegas for our four-day escape . . . um . . . I meant to say "vacation", and I put my case on my bed, loaded it with all my stuff, and set it back on the floor. Hubby carried it out to the car and put it in. (no rolling around) When we got to the airport, he took it out of the car and, guess what? One wheel was just about broken off! You see, I had lent it to my darling granddaughter when she went to France on a twenty-one day trip. She didn't notice that it had gotten broken on the very last leg of her trip. Well, I made do. There was no time to replace it.
I prayed that it would last until I got it loaded on the plane. After arriving in Vegas, I prayed that it would last until I got to the hotel. Sigh. Three and half days of not worrying and not having to deal with rolling it around. Then, when it was time to go home, I prayed it would last long enough to get back to Cedar Rapids. It did. See, prayers do get answered.
Last year, Nina's daughter, Sara, was kind enough to lend me one of her bags. And this year, Little Ma is coming to the rescue again. Even though she is not with us anymore, she seems to still be giving and giving. I am borrowing one of her pieces of luggage for this next trip.
Anyhoo, that is my strange, long-winded luggage story. I'll let you know if I have any mishaps on this trip and I have to bring my clothes home in a garbage bag.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
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