Trudy's Lost Luggage
Trudy was a 50-ish mother of the groom. Her son was getting married in Kansas
and she had to take the first airplane trip of her life. Trudy lived in Southern
California and would travel via Dallas/Fort Worth to Wichita, Kansas. She would
fly to Wichita the day before her son's wedding.
Trudy rarely traveled. Raising four children did not leave her much time nor
money for traveling. Thinking that she would not go anywhere else any time soon,
she purchased a small suitcase at the church rummage sale, packed carefully and
left for the airport. Her "mother-of-the-groom" dress was folded on
top.
When Trudy arrived in Wichita, her suitcase did not arrive with her. The
bride's family helped Trudy file a missing luggage claim. All evening long,
during the rehearsal dinner and after-dinner party, the bride's family called
the airline. The bag was missing.
Early the next morning, the bride's father phoned the Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines baggage claim directly, described the suitcase and found they
did have something like it, but missing all tags. They opened the bag and found
a powder blue formal dress folded on top. They promised to put it on the next
plane to Wichita.
The bag arrived three hours before the wedding. The bride spent a great deal
of her wedding day phoning her mother's friends, trying to line up a formal
dress and matching shoes for her soon-to-be mother-in-law, just in case. Trudy
did have to wear borrowed clothes to a pre-wedding luncheon, but had her dress
in time for her son's wedding.
Why not just go out and purchase new clothes? Because the wedding was on
Bicentennial Sunday, July 4, 1976, and all the stores were closed.
Trudy has given permission to share this story in hopes that it prevents the
same thing from happening to someone else. She has, indeed, gone on more trips
including Israel and Hawaii.
The bride and groom are still married, celebrating 29 years in 2005. The
bride is the author of this website.
What have we learned?
- Do not buy cheap luggage.
- If you are going somewhere important the next day, pack appropriate
clothes in a carry-on bag.
- Triple-tag your bags. One tag is on the outside with your name, address
and telephone. One tag is the airline tag. Finally, put identification on the
inside of your bag, including name, home address and phone, and where you can
be reached while on the road.
01/07/2005
|
