*Sniff*
A fond farewell to the best suitcase ever. And I mean ever-ever. I purchased this lovely Olympia 26" roller from TJ Maxx in Downers Grove, Illinois in 1999 for $74.99. This little baby has been places even I haven't (i.e., it's mis-route from Bangkok to Micronesia instead of Ho Chi Minh City)! She road atop a van, hitting all points of the India Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur) and I do not even want to recall what I had to scrape off of her after that trip. She's "smuggled" bottles of wine from France, cheese from Amsterdam, knock-offs from Shanghai (before I knew better) and a myriad of Christmas presents to and fro. We've literally been around the world together more than 20 times.
All but her main zipper tabs have been broken off and I use a key ring to maneuver them. Her side handle broke off about a year ago and I thought about retiring her then, but simply couldn't let go..... I noticed the handle that was left was loose in Manila. I started treating her with care and fussing at bell-boys who grabbed her too roughly. I packed her lightly and stuffed the other bag with heavier objects. She lasted all the way back to Nashville, as if she knew her 10 year reign was over. When I went to pull her off the belt here at home, her solitary handle was dangling off.
I have tried in the past to replace her, even contacting Olympia. Sadly, her model has long been retired. Replacement is futile. I have no idea what to do. Farewell, my dear, old friend.
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So sad. I was planning to ask if you had a fav. The piece I bought when my fav died lasted for ONE trip to Alaska. I don't know if it experienced very rough handling or if it was just not durable. I suspect the latter. One of the wheels died. Now I am on a hunt for a new one - or two. My favorite carry on disappeared:( I bought it in London:( Can't find it here:( I am traveling again at the end of the month!
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling. My fave is on its last legs, but I can't bear to part from it.
ReplyDeleteI'm still looking for that special case.
ReplyDeleteSadness! It's so hard to find luggage that can stand up to all the abuse it gets put through! My brother went to Uganda on a missions trip a few years ago and the luggage we bought him had to be trashed once he got home. It was completely destroyed! More recently, he went to Cambodia on a missions trip and the Samsonite luggage we bought him came home in one piece and undamaged! The set we got him is similar to this one:http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=419162
ReplyDeleteI've used some of the bags for vacation travel and they are awesome!