Story and Reflection: By the Book

A lighter note for today. I thought it’d be fun to share a story about what happens when my rule-follower tendencies show up at the exact moment my plan stops matching reality.

Not too long ago, while traveling with multiple stops, airline changes, and short layovers, I was determined to fit everything into one carry-on. I was quietly proud of myself. I had managed to pack clothes for four different places and three different climates. It did require expanding the carryon, which already made me feel slightly like that person, but it was still objectively small.

The first couple of flights were no issue. Then we boarded a very small plane.

My husband was confident he could make the bag fit in the overhead bin. I was less confident. I paused at the plane door and asked the flight attendant what she thought. She took one look and said, “Unlikely. You’ll need to gate check it.” So I did. Immediately. Without protest. I left it neatly with the strollers and wheelchairs.

My husband appeared mildly injured that I didn’t trust his bag-stuffing prowess. He then watched several people with bags larger than mine successfully stuff them into overhead bins, while I sat beside him, silently questioning my life choices.

When we landed my bag did not reappear with the strollers and wheelchairs. So, instead of walking calmly with him toward our connecting flight in the international terminal, I exited the secure area to visit baggage customer service. They were not successful in finding it. I filed a lost bag report, then went back through customs sans suitcase to meet him.

As I was exiting customs, I got a call. They had found the bag.

So I went out once again, I exited the secure area, retrieved it, and went back through customs... a second time.

For someone who followed the rules, it oddly felt like a walk of shame when, ninety minutes later, I emerged and walked toward my husband, who greeted me with a knowing smirk and the good sense not to say a word. 😉

Reflection: What’s something that you've experienced that became funnier, a bit after the fact?