Lost and Found

As I begin to edit my photos from our Caribbean cruise, I realize I didn't take very many pictures. I suppose that's a sign of the fun we had - I spent more time taking in the sights than behind a camera lens. I promise to get a few highlights of the cruise posted later. However, no vacation is entirely smooth and ours was no exception. Here is a tale of lost and found.

Any serious scrapbooker has an arsenal of assorted tools and supplies. ScrapMap provided a list of items each participant was required to bring. The list included a Crop-a-Dile, Zutter Bind-It-All, Big Bite, scissors, dry and wet adhesives, trimmers, punches, etc. Scrapbookers know these items don't come cheap. I have a special rolling case and hand-tote made just for scrapbook supplies. Packed to the brim with all the supplies I needed for a week of classes, it was the second most important suitcase (my photography equipment reigns supreme in importance and never leaves my side).

Traveling from Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale is an easy 1-1/4 hour direct flight. Doughboy wanted to start our vacation on the right foot and used his highly coveted frequent flyer miles to score first class seats. Being a no-brainer flight, we eagerly waited for our luggage to arrive on the baggage carousel. One, two, three...three...where is #4? The one suitcase I couldn't live without - the one that contained all my scrap supplies - was missing!

To make a very long story short, Doughboy drew a lot of attention in his effort to calm his irrational wife by working with the disinterested helpful Delta baggage claim representative. A quick check on Doughboy's Blackberry showed another flight from Atlanta was scheduled to arrive in 35 minutes.

And so we waited for the next flight to arrive in the hope my bag was somehow separated from the rest of our luggage. No such luck. Giving up, we made our way to the port without my missing bag but with the assurance it would be delivered to the ship via taxi. Two hours later our ship left port...without the missing suitcase. Thank you Delta airlines.

Our first port of call was Key West - an approximate 4-hour drive (one way) from Ft. Lauderdale. Doughboy worked his frustration charm with Delta and had my missing bag delivered to Key West via taxi. Woo hoo! It's no wonder why I adore this man! Doughboy knows that if mamma ain't happy, ain't no one happy. The bag was dirty, frayed, and the pull handle was missing. But I was so relieved to see it - sitting along the side of the road at a security check point. What was lost had been found. This calls for a celebration!