Because I travel extensively, my luggage has been to many exotic and fun locations. In addition, lost luggage is a reality when you travel. Sometimes it is just the places you go and sometimes it is just the luck of the draw. One of the things I always wondered was where does the luggage go on vacation when it is not with you?
When I lived and worked in Dallas, TX, I traveled with the company to Hershey, PA. Yes, that is the home of Hershey chocolate. Did I get a chance to experience being at a Mecca for chocolate lovers? Of course not – I was working with a workaholic. At the end of the trip, I broke the return and stopped in Chicago for a short visit with my mom and dad. When I got to the luggage carousel, my luggage did not show up. It was missing in action.
I filed a missing person’s report with the airlines. Now this was at a time before they had “great” ways to track where the luggage was in the system. They could not say definitively where it was, but that it would be delivered just as soon as it showed up. Well, my visit ended and still no luggage. Now the delivery would be to Dallas.
After two weeks and no luggage, I filed an inventory of what was in the suitcase and shortly a check for my trouble was issued. At that point, the suitcase went out of my consciousness, although I did wonder where in the world it was and was it having fun there.
We moved from Dallas to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles. One day in the mail, I received a postcard from Hampton, VA where I had lived prior to our Dallas home. The airport in Hampton had my suitcase; where did I want it sent. First question – how did you track me down? The second – where has this suitcase been for almost 3 years?
When the suitcase arrived in my possession, it has stickers on it were from Mexico, Panama, and Argentina, but the original tracking sticker from Hershey to Dallas was missing. To this day, I still wonder how it got to all those places and what it did there. Did it take side trips and be a tourist or did it just stay safely in the airport?
I know this is fanciful, but how can a piece of luggage stay lost in the system for so long and still show up later like it just wanted to come home. I have lost luggage in Heathrow that has gone to Dubai or Atlanta, GA and some that wanted to do a staycation at the airport. Having an imagination, whether wild and crazy or practical, is so important in re-imagining your dreams. What is your big, bold, vibrant dream for this year? Watch for more information on my Dare2Dream with Linda program. It will make those dreams come alive.
Something else I have learned as a business woman is to ask for what you want. If you loved what you just read, this content is not for free. As a form of payment, I am asking you to comment or share this on Facebook or tweet about it on Twitter.
Linda Patten, MBA, BSN, RN has over 30 years of experience leading women to success in building and achieving their dreams. She turns networking marketing women from product sellers to leaders of highly functioning teams. To learn more about her innovative programs, click on Contact Us.