I wish I had a little red bouncing ball feature so that we could all sing together! Do you even remember the songs on TV and in movies, where the audience was asked to follow the bouncing ball and sing along? I guess you have to be really, really old... like me! (Oh, but I'm not that old bag! You have to read on to find out about that!)
California, Here I Come
Colorado’s where I started from
where bowers of flowers
bloom in the spring
each morning at dawning
birdies sing at everything
my oldest son says, "Don't be late!"
that's why I can hardly wait
open up that golden gate
California, Here I Come!!
Hubby and I are taking a few days off from reconstruction and will visit number 1 son in San Francisco while number 2 son has been coerced into holding down the fort. Last night we took a trip drive into town (Oh... I am so loving being 5 miles from 'town'!!) to get a new suitcase for me. I love new suitcases. I love exploring their zippered compartments... most of which I never use!
I had to 'let go' of my previous carry-on. It seems that my carry-on no longer met carry-on standards. We went on a fabulous trip to Europe last year. On our way there I travelled on two airplanes... and carried on my carry-on with no problems. But, on our return, at 4:30 in the morning, the ticket attendant said I would have to check my bag and that would be an extra $50 fee. I am a morning person... but I think I was grumpy because I didn't want to go home, and I probably wasn't really looking forward to a 6-hour layover at the Munich airport. Also trying to communicate in broken English sets me on edge... why is it that I feel like I have to talk louder and slower for the person to understand me?! I tried to explain that the bag hadn't been a problem on other flights. She marched me over to the 'bag tester' where I tried to prove my bag was a carryon by trying to wedge it into and between the metal bars.
She had an attitude and kinda crossed her arms and hmphed at me, as if to say, "I told you so." I got my back up. Remember... it was only 4:30 in the morning, oh, and did I mention that we had already traveled an hour by bus? I moved out of the line. Plunked the offensive oversize carry-on... which really at one time was a carry-on (do they, like some people, increase in size with age?) on the floor of the airport. I guess I had a presentiment about this as I had a smaller zippered bag in the carry-on. I pulled that out. Stuffed my belongings into it and got back in line. When I got to the attendant again I handed her the offensive oversize outdated old...very old and worn, carry-on. I told her she could throw it out. I proceeded to get my boarding pass, leaving my old friend, who had seen lots of travel with me, at the Marseilles airport. Her time had come. She was tired and worn and probably wouldn't have been able to travel anymore anyway. Her zippers were failing and couldn't handle the strain of rough treatment. Picture the baggage truck heading out to the airplane leaving a trail of my clothing behind. But, I do wish I could have given her a private burial with a bit more dignity than being dumped at the airport! Farewell, old bag. We had some great times together.
Geez, I remember the bouncing ball sing-a-longs on my BLACK and WHITE TV.....Yikes!!! RIP Old Bag!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! Good for you. I hate running into "attitude" and usually end up "attituding" right back. I would have loved to have seen that attendant's face when she realized that she hadn't been able to squeeze an extra $50 out of you, after all. Don't feel bad for the old bag. She probably was glad you didn't get shafted.
ReplyDeleteHave a great vacation in California.
That's too funny- I just bought a bag yesterday too! My husband is using the only luggage we own, as he is working out of town, and I'm going on a 4 day trip with my sister soon, and had nothing to put my clothes in, so I got one of those ones that works like a duffel but has a handle and wheels- and lots of zippered compartments that I just had to explore. LOL!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I remember "Sing along with Mitch". We're not old, we're vintage.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had to abandon your old friend, but wise choice. You don't want your undies scattered about the tarmac.
Enjoy your trip. Have some shrimp and sourdough bread for me. I grew up in the Bay Area.
I'm vintage too, and remember the bouncing ball. Have a great trip.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time! A getaway to anywhere sounds pretty good about now.
ReplyDeleteWill you be staying at "Hotel California"? Will you say "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"? Have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteAnne
I remember the bouncing ball. :-) I am sorry about your old friend, too. I also enjoy new luggage (and decorated empty boxes, and blank journals). Have a great trip visiting your son.
ReplyDeleteAhhh yes, we are of an age all of us! Great memories. Have fun on your trip.
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I hope you have a wonderful vacation...I am so sorry about your old travel companion, though she might just have been grateful to be retired than take the baggage handling thru international airports one more time....It is funny, just today I was looking at an old (now antique) suitcase I picked up at a thrift store and used it to make the trip to the USA from Aust 11yrs ago...It has served me very well and I am looking for a way to display and honor it somewhere in our home...and no not the garden lol.
ReplyDeleteBlessings Kelsie
ohhhhh I love those bouncing red singalong balls...I think we all need one of those on our blogs!
ReplyDeleteCatching up on blogs...yes I remember those bouncing balls. Seems like they were on kid shows. Why couldn't the "lady?" just show you it's too big, but let you take it "this time only" since it made the trip this far. THe other attendants should have been doing their job in the first place. And I don't think the bags get bigger, I think the size tester thingy' gets smaller. Another way for them to make some money.
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee