A Reunion With Clean Shorts

Now I know how Bill Murray’s character felt at the end of the movie Groundhog Day. After realizing he would not have to repeat the day again, he simply tells Andie McDowell, “It was the end of a very long day.” Well, my bag arrived tonight and it seems like the end of a very, very long day.

I left Sacramento on Friday, July 21 and my bag caught up with me on July 27. I am not sure if it ever would have happened had the entire government of Ghana not been on the case. The bag was personally delivered to my hotel by the airport administrator who apologized profusely. And this is what makes my blood boil. In all my dealings with Northwest and KLM, I never got an apology, just excuses and the blame passed on to the airport in Accra. I even had one agent explain that the bag was likely stolen in Accra “because, you know, it’s a Third World country.” Maybe she just could have said that it was stolen because everyone in the country is black and let her true feelings be known.

The fact is: the only airport that stayed with this was Accra while Northwest and KLM argued about where the bag was. I was told it was in New York JFK, Minneapolis, Amsterdam on several occasions, and, of course in the trunk of a car in Accra with the driver wearing one of my ties.

But it feels good to be reacquainted with my possessions. I have my razor back, and clean shirts for sleep, socks that match, dress shoes, and, of course, clean shorts. I think it would be simpler if, in the future, Brad and Angelina want to adopt another African baby, they should fly on Northwest/KLM and have their bag lost. When it finally arrives, they will be so happy to see their bag that it will feel like they have a new member of their weird little family. They could even name it Sam, short for Samsonite.

Well, just wanted to say I love my luggage and since Mrs. Laz is far, far away, I think I will sleep with my luggage and hold it tight all night.