I remember being on a business trip to the UK a few years back. As I stood near the baggage pickup and waited, my heart started to sink further and further as the thwap thwap of the conveyor belt got louder and the conveyor belt got emptier. I knew it probably wasn't a good sign. My bag didn't end up being on it. I had heard of this happening, yikes...now what? I was lucky, travelling business class maybe, I don't know but my luggage was tracked down in Sweden and showed up later that evening where I was staying...phew! I didn't have to go out and get any new clothes, toiletries etc. I was able to keep everything just as it was. I was relieved.
We all know that this isn't always the way it goes. Often "baggage" gets inadvertently lost and we forget about it. Time passes, life moves on and then? The call comes from the airport telling you "Surprise! Good news, we found your lost luggage"! Now what? I'm guessing that initially there would be a tremendous amount of excitement. It has been years now, how is this possible? It was so long ago, is it even worth picking up? What do you do? Leave it at the airport? Unlikely. If you're anything like me, your curiosity alone would be enough to go get it.
Then what?
You get the luggage home and stare at it in disbelief...how is this even possible? I thought this stuff was gone forever! You open up the suitcase and a flood of experiences come tumbling out with all of the paraphernalia you had packed. Stuff you had completely forgotten about. You rummage through and pick up a couple of things and are surprised by what pops up for you as look at each item. Each piece brings up a vivid memory. Some really good and some, hmmm maybe not so much. I wore that?!!
This is where a decision has to be made.
Do you take the entire contents of the suitcase and dump it back into your closet and drawers and act like it all belongs there again? I'm guessing probably not the best idea. Think about it. Some of the clothes may not fit anymore or your sense of fashion has changed. Quite likely that the toiletries are all dried up by now too and useless.
I'm thinking that maybe sifting through what is there may be useful. You may find a couple of items that you realize you could use again now and integrate them back into your wardrobe. And the others? Maybe toss them out. After all, you haven't really missed them after this long so maybe they aren't useful anymore. Regardless, just because the suitcase showed up doesn't mean you have to go on the same trip again. It just means you have some old stuff that may be useful and some you are ready to let go of.
What will you do when your lost luggage shows up?
