My Trusty Old Luggage

ATredluggageOnce again, it’s that exciting and stressful time to take out the luggage and start packing.  After almost nine years, my bruised-and-battered four-wheel softcase spinner American Tourister bag is still standing and ready for another trip.

This piece of luggage, with all its dirt stains and scratches, is more than just a bag.  I had bought this when my husband and I were preparing for our move to Singapore in 2005.  It’s my first piece of big luggage, just as my first trip to Singapore was big. It was a one-way trip to a new life for my family that lasted for seven years.

This piece of luggage has traveled with my family for seven years on several trips around Southeast Asia, including our annual trip to Manila when we were still living in Singapore. It’s been through a 3-week holiday in the United States.  On and off conveyor belts, in and out of cargo hold.  And still standing.

For something that had cost probably around Php 5,000 (USD 112), this piece of luggage has been more than worth it.  I am so thankful that there are still things like this that aren’t designed to be disposable, that are meant to work for a long time. (I’m reminded of our opthalmologist in Singapore who told me, “Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s not useful anymore.” We were talking about eyeglass frames, but the wisdom applies.)

I hope I won’t be jinxing the fate of my red American Tourister luggage by writing this post.  Hopefully, weeks from now, when I write about coming home from our trip, my trusty old bag will come home with me, upright and intact.

 

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