Wednesday, August 24, 2005

The Pursuit for Professional: Part I: Luggage

There's a distinct possibility that, by week's end, I'll be the new owner of luggage, a suit, and leather heels.

I. Luggage

I bought luggage this morning. I got my first set of luggage (a forest green, $100 Costco set I loved) when I was 18. I felt like an adult having that luggage--matching, versatile, utile. But it died after twelve or so transcontinental Salt Lake-to-NY flights, and I've been pretending for the last three years that I can live without luggage. Can do without it. (See imaginarily attached diagram of garbage sack, canvas bag, Beth Hedengren-donated backpack, duct-taped boxed contraptions.) But I'm heading off to law school (tomorrow on a plane to see my best friend, Laura A. T. and co.) and to a new life. And I needed luggage.

I've traveled a lot this summer (see previous blog) and so have spent some moments--on beds, airplanes, trains, buses, ferries, and a moped; in beds, cars, taxis, subways; at baggage carousels and open trunks around the world--considering what my ideal set of luggage would be.

Four pieces: (1) giant suitcase, (2) normal large suitcase, (3) large duffel bag (similar size as normal large suitcase), and (4) roller-board carryon. All with pockets. All with wheels and straps and handles and zippers (strong, strong zippers). And red.

That's really all there is to my story, except the important part, which is to say I bought it this morning, with fake money I don't have but have budgeted for, on an impulse stop at Village Luggage (villageluggage.com, supposedly), which Mom and Peter and I passed on our way to donate blood. Apparently people do shop at those fairly easy-to-miss stores throughout Long Island. (Peter asked: "How do they ever make money?" And I said: "They've been open today for six minutes, and I just spent $300.") I did not, however, buy the roller-board carryon, which would have been an additional $80 plus tax. (Though I did get a compl(e/i)mentary tote.) And it's all monogrammed--SLO. S L O. Which will, I suppose, work better than my first plan, which was to identify my luggage by a faded blue and orange handkerchief (aka doo rag) from girls' camp of yore I was otherwise going to tie to the bags. Though, to be professional, I maybe could have convinced myself to purchase a new one. In silk.

5 comments:

N.F. said...

Wow, looks like the same people spamming your blog did mine too!

Melissa said...

How brilliant to see you blogging again. I’d begun to think you’d given it up, but I've never been happier to be wrong. I started up a blog with my brothers—Jonathan, of aforementioned blogging fame and David, more infamous than famous. None of us are good at posting often.

I’ve only just started to receive these infuriating advertisements. I’m baffled because I can’t imagine that these ploys would ever actually work. I can’t think of anyone I’d be less likely to grace with my patronage. You can delete them if you access the comments while you're in your dashboard mode by clicking on the trashcan below them.

Your thesis sounds sound. I’d like to hear the official title because thesis titles are generally so compelling. Did you use a colon? Metaphor & Inquiry: A Thesis of Champions. Yours was probably longer and more impressive. No really, I think you chose a worthy and interesting subject to explore, but I’m confident that Sarah Olson could do no less.

I’m not teaching this fall. I’m taking stock of my life, a phrase which makes me think of cattle, and going back to school. I’m starting classes this week to get my school library media certificate, and I’m planning on applying to graduate schools in the fall. I don’t really know where or in what field, but I’m sure I’ll figure things out eventually. Since I can’t admire you first-hand, I’m content to admire you from a distance; so don’t stop blogging whatever your reservations may be.

N.F. said...

Also, turn on the word verification, that should stop them.

Rachel Olson said...

Sarah, people love you. They really love you... lucky... :)
Luggage... profound topic.
Love you!

N.F. said...

I stumbled across your blog, and it was very interesting reading, but I see you haven't updated it in a while. If you decide that you're going to start blogging again, e-mail me and I'll start reading again! :)