There is always a moment of anxiety as I watch the carousel deliver my bags off the airline from my travel. I wait for two bags, my toy bag and my work clothes. I would be hurt financially if I had to replace either, they represent time and money to collect just the right item for work.

Returning from Detroit, only my clothes made the entire journey.

I went to the Southwest Luggage Office and filed a claim. there is really nothing more you can do and the people there aren’t the people that lost your luggage, they are the people trying to find your luggage for you.

I had my daughter and grandchildren waiting for me at home. Life is rather perfect that way because when you are with your grandchildren, they demand all of your attention. I had an amazing time with them.

When I awoke on Thursday,Thanksgiving Day, I had this thought trail through my mind about how several weeks ago the side handle had been broken off my luggage traveling into Philadelphia by the airline. The airline doesn’t consider that damage, by the by. It is only damage if they put a hole in the main compartment of your suitcase, the zipper and handles don’t count. My thought was that if they had broken the top handle, the label they stuck around it would have fallen off and my luggage would be sitting unmarked and unclaimed somewhere.

I was traveling to Newark airport that day for a conference, Brimstone, that is in Asbury Park. It took a bit of time to wait for my luggage to be delivered and I noticed that the Luggage Claim Office there was open and there was no line in the office. I stepped in to chat with them. I told them my thoughts I had had that morning, that I had traveled from Detroit to Denver to LA. One of the women asked what the bag looked like and what was in it. Upon hearing what was in it, the woman at the computer turned into her monitor and started focusing on the screen while she typed. No, there was no unmarked bag in Detroit. I thanked them for looking and went back to the carousel to look for my conference luggage.

The woman who had asked me the questions came up and asked if she and the others could have my card. They wanted to know more, and they had never met someone so open, so they thought they could ask me. I was happy to give out my card.

A bit more time went by, and finally, my bag was there to claim on the carousel. again, I was tapped on the shoulder, it was the same woman from the Luggage Claim Office, she was smiling while telling me her comrade in the off ice had found my luggage. It was in the unmarked/unclaimed store room in Denver. The description I gave of the bag matched perfectly.

They offered to deliver it to me (not a good option, I would then have 3 bags and be paying for extra bags on my return to LA), deliver it to my home (not a good option, I wasn’t there) or deliver it to the claim office in Los Angeles for me to pick up upon my return there (perfect).

Southwest Airlines gave me a $50.00 voucher for my inconvenience. I am blessed that my things return to me.

And kudos to the Ladies in the Southwest Baggage Claim Office in Newark for being truly service oriented. I am *SO* grateful. Thank you.