I've been writing these blogs for a while now and sometimes I think that I might run out of ideas. I mean, after the Sigg bottle with the paper sleeve around it and the stores leaving their doors open with the air-conditioning on, I thought I'd seen everything.Until this weekend.
I was on the train coming back from New Jersey. The train made a stop at Newark Airport. Many people boarded on their way back to Manhattan after their journeys around the world.
I watched as people tried to shove their bags onto the overhead rack or tuck them between their legs.
There was one bag that stood out. I saw this turqoise blue suitcase, all bright and shiny with fun stickers on the sides. I wanted to get a closer look so when the train stopped and everyone began to exit, I scooted past the people to get a glimse of the ocean blue bag.
I was horrified to find that the suitcase was actually black and the shiny, turqoise blue color was plastic wrap!!
Why on God's green earth was someone wrapping their suitcase in plastic wrap? Were they afraid that their suitcase was going to get ruined while entering the abyss we know of as baggage check?
Of course it was going to get ruined! Isn't that the purpose of baggage check? To screen your precious bag, load it onto the dollie, throw it onto the conveyer belt and then move it into the plane's filthy cargo hold to deliver it to your destination? And then reverse the process so you can push people aside while you lift your heavy bag off the baggage claim carousel?
This is a rite of passage for a new suitcase. It wants to be used and dirty. It wants to fit in with all the other bags! It's like a brand new pair of white sneakers. Who wants to be seen with a pristine suitcase?
But hey, who am I to judge? If someone wants a brand spanking new suitcase to look that way for all eternity, then be my guest. Just choose a new method instead of plastic. Remember, plastic is made from oil. And right now, thousands of gallons of that stuff is spilling into our beautiful ocean, killing our fish, birds and other wildlife.
Save the ocean, not your luggage.
