Lost Baggage

I was reminded of my former obsession with luggage when I saw an antique leather case doubling as a side table on a home decorating show. Somewhere in my mother’s home, possibly succumbing to mildew, is a similar case purchased from a second hand store either in Seattle or Oakland. Throughout my early twenties I bought suitcases old and new. I searched Salvation Army Stores and second hand shops for vintage leather cases and carry-ons and decorated my room with them. One winter to make money enough to return to college I worked for bags store in a local discount strip mall. The sting of working retail was softened by my affection for the merchandise. I thoroughly enjoyed arranging and rearranging the suitcase displays and loved telling customers about our products. My sales record was phenomenal and I used some of the money from my last paycheck to buy a top of the line roll aboard with my employee’s discount. I dreamed of one day owning a full five piece set of vintage Louis Vuitton trunks. I thought I was going somewhere.