65: Travel Bag

I've always hated rolling suitcases. They didn't exist yet when I was growing up and airports were filled with people walking lopsided, a wide suitcase in one hand. I hate the sound of the mini-wheels rolling through airports and especially over pavement. I also hate that I have become one of those people who rolls her suitcase through the airport.

Initially, I resisted buying a suitcase with wheels. When I was planning to visit my husband in Germany I went shopping for an over-sized shoulder bag that I could move gracefully through the airport with tucked under my arm. I found the black bag above and flattened my clothes into tiny shapes to shove into every corner of every compartment. It fit fine as a carry-on in the overhead plane compartment, but during my four hour layover my image of a stylish woman sliding through the airport toward her American soldier husband soon faded. The bag straps were too short when the bag was crammed full and even my chicken arms barely fit through the opening. The handles were covered in heavy stitching and the raised leather around the edge cut into my hand and shoulder.  I alternated between slinging it over my shoulder and holding it in my hand to allow the slashes of skin to resurface and regain circulation. I honestly considered ditching it in the airport, but in the post-September 11th world of travel figured it would cause more harm than holding it.

When I got to Germany, my husband carried it for me and refused to admit how much the handles hurt his hands. I don't remember carrying it on the way back home and suspect I must have put it in checked baggage, something that I normally avoid at all costs. Despite how much I hated this bag, I kept it, the plane sticker still wrapped around the handle, in my closet. It became a home for shoes that I never wore, but wasn't yet willing to give away. The shoes inside this bag were among the first of the 24 (65) things I got rid of. With the shoes in a good-will bin, this bag was empty and taking up space in my closet. I have traveled at least once a year for the past five years and within the past five months I've been away to four places on local road trips, across the country, and internationally. Never once did I even consider bringing this bag. After the trip to Germany, I broke down and bought a set of rolling suitcases. Each time I pack the rolling bag I resolve to carry it through the airport, then usually give up halfway and realize that when you are running to make a connecting flight it just isn't practical to slow yourself down with a suitcase. I do still pack light and usually survive with just a backpack, but times when I've needed more space I've been thankful to have the option to wheel.