The Suitcase Saga Continued

If you read my first couple of posts, you may be asking yourself if the Case of the Missing Suitcase was ever resolved. It’s not as easy as a yes or no answer, so let me tell you all about it.

I trusted Delta when they said that my suitcase was certainly among the piles at LaGuardia Airport and that once the piles dwindled to something more reasonable that they would easily be able to find it and return it. Perhaps I was a bit naïve. Daily, I called the help number on the brochure I had been given, and daily I was given vague answers. One day, I was told they found my suitcase! My heart jumped with excitement! I found out moments later that the agent had not found my bag, but that after a week or so, Delta starts repeating bag tracking numbers. She said if Delta was reusing the bag tracking number, it was probably time to give up hope of ever seeing my bag again. She directed me to the page of Delta’s website where I could file a claim.

NYC winters are even colder if you lose all your belongings.

Weeks had already passed since I had packed my suitcase when I tried to remember each individual item that was lost. Imagine trying to catalogue dozens of items from memory weeks after packing a suitcase. The Delta claim document also required the exact cost of the item, where it was purchased, and when. Let me assure you, that is super hard. I had items of clothing that were bought when I was in high school, and I have no idea how much they cost because my mom definitely bank rolled any and all high school shopping trips. I went about the process methodically and without much emotion, after all clothes and make up and shoes and so on can all be replaced.

After listing the work clothes that were gone, the casual clothes that were gone, and the workout clothes that were gone, I got to the subject of pajamas. And I lost it. I could not hold the tears back once I realized that my beloved Cow Pants were gone and gone for good. (Yes, Cow Pants is capitalized, because to me, those pants earned the status of a proper noun). These are the world’s most amazing pants. If Earth was about to explode and I could bring one item with me on a spaceship destined for safety, I would grab the Cow Pants without hesitation. They are priceless and irreplaceable. Literally. The company no longer makes adult pajamas and no amount of crash dieting will get me back into toddler sizes. So sitting on my bed in my New York City apartment, I mourned my Cow Pants. I fondly remembered the good times we’d had and the warmth they’d brought me. I thought of the full and happy life the Pants had lived. I didn’t even put them on my Delta claim, since trying to give them a dollar value would only cheapen them. I submitted the form and received a pop-up informing me that the form was successfully submitted and Delta would review it in the next few months to decide my reimbursement.

Understatement of the year

A few weeks later, I stood on a subway platform waiting for the L Train when my cell phone rang. It was an international number that I did not recognize. I almost hit “ignore” but for some reason answered the call instead. A cheery voice said, “Good morning! This is Jennifer from Delta Montreal. Is this Miss Howe?” I answered affirmatively, and she went on, “Did you recently lose a piece of baggage while traveling to New York, LaGuardia.” I answered yes again, and my hands started to shake. I did not want to let myself feel hope only to be disappointed again. Jennifer went on, “We have located your bag here in Montreal and are happy to send it to New York once you confirm an address for delivery.” Still unsure, I asked, “Montreal, Canada?” Yes, she confirmed. I have never been to Canada but apparently my bag wanted to see America’s hat! I was so delighted that my belongings were coming back! I quickly gave the woman my work address (no doorman at home means no daytime deliveries).

Twenty-seven hours later (And 6 weeks and 27 hours after my first flight), my black Vera Bradley suitcase arrived for her Carnegie Hall debut. All day I was smiling from ear to ear and giggling at every turn. The bag felt lighter when I rolled it to my cubicle, but perhaps I had just gotten stronger, I told myself. That evening at home, I inspected the bag and its contents. It had felt lighter because about half its contents had vanished. All of the items that were once neatly folded in categories were now balled up with no rhyme or reason. Someone in Memphis, or Cincinnati, or Indianapolis, or New York, or Montreal had rummaged through my bag and taken anything that seemed to have value. What idiots they were though! They left my Cow Pants safe and sound!

Reunited and it feels soooo good!!!