OK, I admit it. I have a lot of baggage. Way over the airline limit. That’s why I’m waiting for the train. It costs more than flying, but you can haul everything with you. Plus, trains are retro and better for the planet. Yes it’s slow and uncomfortable, but I’ve made my peace with rail travel. Although, after sitting in this depot for ages, I’m starting to think the train is never coming.
Of course it’s not easy dragging all this crap around. My friends have nothing to weigh them down and just flit off whenever the spirit moves them. They keep bugging me to dump my baggage. The Zen part of me knows they’re right. I should just stand up and walk away. But I never do.
Besides, do you know what happens if you leave baggage unattended at a train station? They call homeland security and the bomb squad blows it up. I can’t let that happen!
I mean, it’s all vintage stuff in the original case. It’s my history, my life. How can I abandon it?
It’s not like I haven’t tried to lighten up. Once, a few years ago, I unlocked the trunk and looked inside. The first layer held my ballet shoes and dressage ribbons: the good times. But under the lift out tray was a nasty stash of stinging memories. I tossed out that humiliating day in 8th grade gym then quickly shut the lid.
These were not my secrets originally. I inherited the collection, but they are mine now. And the failures, feuds and family shames are so tightly packed I could never get them all back inside if I freed them from their fitted compartments. Besides, my parents always kept them locked up tight. Why should I unpack them now?
So, as executor of this dysfunctional family trust, here I sit, guarding the bag of past pain like some pigheaded Templar Knight, sworn to keep it with me always, until the day I die and the whole mess passes on to the next generation.
I guess my poor daughter will be saddled with this burden along with my pug nose.
Wait. Is that a train whistle? Finally, and it looks like an Express. You know, I have half a mind to just jump on board and leave that baggage unattended.
