I was on my way to 6 days and 5 nights in Las Vegas, Nevada to gamble, relax, and generally get away from it all. The flight to Vegas was uneventful, and I couldn't imagine what my vacation would become as I discovered I'd only retrieved one of two suitcases I had checked before leaving Houston. The Continental Airlines lost baggage department was very sympathetic, taking down the description of the bag and its contents, and assuring me that everything would be done to find my bag and send it to me at the hotel.
Luckily, the missing bag did not contain my clothing, makeup, or other things one usually packs. This bag I laughingly referred to as my "Life Support System" while chatting with my hubby while packing. It contained my favorite pillow, some cigarettes, snacks (since I'm diabetic, and have had gastic bypass surgery - must eat every 2 1/2 to 3 hours), The power cord for my laptop, charging cord for my cell phone, charging unit for my camera battery, etc. I mentally counted my blessings on the way to the hotel - thankful that I had carried onto the plane my laptop and camera. I missed my other stuff, but was hopeful the bag would show up after travelling somewhere "exotic".
I really started missing my stuff when I had to buy replacements for my cigs and snacks. My laptop battery went dead, so the computer was useless for the duration of the trip. Pictures were minimal with my camera, and the battery died after day 3. (Thank goodness I was able to capture pics of the Star Trek Experience before it died!) My cell phone never made it past the 24 hour mark, and was added to the pile of useless electronics I'd taken with me. To top it all was having to sleep on those darned cheap hotel pillows!
We take for granted the items we use the most, and being without a cell phone was torture. The rest of my group had trouble keeping track of where I was and what I was doing. I ate more than one meal alone, and missed out on some gambling and sightseeing with them because we could not find each other. (Try calling another person's cell while you both are in another state to really see how impossible that is).
The icing on the cake was getting a call from the lost baggage department dude with "good news" and "bad news". Yes, after 5 days they found my bag... or what was left of it. The tags had been ripped off of it, and it had been gutted like a fish. (Note to self: Don't put a lock on a bag that can be sliced open with a knife. Just let them pilfer what they want, and maybe you'll get your empty bag back undamaged). EVERYTHING was gone, except for a fanny pack and one of the two cigarrette lighters that was originally in it.
I felt like a victim. Violated and hurt. And then pissed off.
It's the principle. My stuff. However trivial to someone else, it put a major damper on my vacation. And everyone around me had to put up with my mood swings because of this. Of course, Continental will replace (or try to) everything I lost, but that involves filling out detailed forms, obtaining receipts for replaced items, etc. What a stressor to end my vacation.
Not every waking moment in Vegas was bad. I did have as good a time as I could despite my losses. I enjoyed the company of my family and friends, and only lost $200.00 gambling in the near week I was there.
Ultimately, I will go on, and find new pillows to love, and cords, etc. that I need for my electronics. (I was able to overnight a cord for my laptop so I could have access to email, etc. when I returned home).
I write this, not as a "pity party", but as a reminder to everyone to be careful what you pack, and what you check in prior to your flight.
Split your clothes, etc. up, if you plan on checking more than one bag.
Put your name and address (and phone number!) on the INSIDE of your bag, as well as on the outside.
If you can travel WITHOUT checking a bag, do so.
And never pack anything valuable, or items having great sentimental value.
Learn from my mistakes, and you'll have a more relaxing vacation with ALL of your stuff.