My Backpack’s Vacation was Longer Than Mine!

Adventures of My Backpack

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After spending several days in Las Vegas on vacation, it was time for me to return home to California. I packed up my things, triple checked my room, and checked out of my hotel. While I waited on a bench outside the hotel for a Lyft to pick me up, my mind wandered as I remembered all the adventures I had had while there.

Before I knew it, the Lyft showed up. I put my suitcase in the trunk, and off we went to the airport. Once I arrived, I thanked the driver, grabbed my suitcase, and proceeded to get in line to check my suitcase.

At that moment, a weird sensation came over me. I thought to myself how light my back felt, and then it hit me. My backpack was missing! It wasn’t the backpack itself that freaked me out, but what was inside. My laptop computer!

Not only was it inside my backpack, but it was fully charged and turned on, meaning anyone who found it would have access to all of my private information.

I assumed I left it in the Lyft car. The driver had mentioned that his next pickup would probably be at the airport. Although there was no way to contact the driver, I hoped that maybe whoever got into the car next would find it, and the Lyft driver would circle around to try to find me to return it.

I stood outside and waited, anxiously watching each car as it drove by. Five minutes passed, then ten. I knew it was futile to wait any longer. At that point, it smacked me in the face like a dodgeball thrown too high. I had to succumb to the fact that my backpack was probably gone forever.

All sorts of thoughts filled my mind. How could I have done this? I’m always so careful. Maybe it was because I was so tired from running around from morning until night, or maybe it was the lack of sleep. Or perhaps my backpack had secretly hidden itself because my laptop was feeling neglected. Maybe it was revenge!

I knew one of the first things I had to do was contact the bank to put a freeze on my account. I started thinking of other things I needed to do in order to protect myself, as well as dreading that I would have to spend money to buy a new laptop, which I hadn’t planned on spending.

The long walk across the airport to get to my gate seemed to take forever. With each step, I became more and more stressed out. My heart was pounding away when my phone rang.

It was the hotel. Apparently, I had left my backpack on the bench in front of the hotel. I was told I could come get it, but there wasn’t enough time to go back to the hotel, then get back to the airport before my flight.

The man from the hotel gave me a website to go to, which is for lost items, and told me that once I filled out the form, it would take about four days to get my backpack back. Four days? I was already quite anxious to get back to my writing. However, four days compared to never getting my backpack and laptop back again worked for me.

As soon as I got home, I filled out the form. My mind was already racing with things. Would my laptop be alright? Would it get home safely? If an inanimate object had feelings, would it be hurt by being abandoned and start cursing me out? Perhaps my imagination was out of control?

I was beginning to go through writing withdrawal, as writing is such a creative outlet for me. You may wonder why I just didn’t use my phone. Ironically, I don’t do much on my phone as I don’t want anything important on it in case I lose it. In addition, the letters are so small to type with, along with a small screen. I’m just much more comfortable using a laptop. I figured a few days should pass quickly.

The next day, I checked the tracking on my backpack, and it hadn’t moved. OK. The guy at the hotel did say about four days, so I figured I would just be patient. On day two, it was still sitting at the hotel. The same on day three.

Had I been forgotten? The following morning, I was about to call the hotel to check on it when I saw that it had left the hotel and was in the process of being processed at USPS in Las Vegas. It showed I would have it back in three days. OK, longer than I had anticipated, but still on the way.

The following day, it arrived in Sacramento, which is right by where I live. The next day, it showed it was in my city. OK, it wouldn’t be long now! Well, so I thought.

The next thing I knew, my backpack had departed the area and was sent to a location in central California. Say what????? In addition, the site was no longer giving me an estimated date and time of arrival. Looks like my backpack was truly getting even with me for leaving it behind.

By now, my writing withdrawals had totally kicked in. I also missed checking my stats, relaxing, and reading articles. My imagination was going crazy. I wondered what my backpack was up to.

Was it just coldly tossed in the corner of a post office, or maybe it was getting to ride around all day in a mail truck, soaking up the sun, listening to music and seeing the sights?

Had it found a new house that looked better than mine and quietly moved in, leaving me behind? Should I be jealous because it was still on vacation and I wasn’t?

Time was now going slower and slower, and for three days, my backpack remained in its extended location in central California. I wondered if it missed me and would it even make it home.

Finally, it showed that it was back in Sacramento and then in my city and out for delivery. Nearly a week and a half had passed without it, and I couldn’t wait to see my backpack and laptop again. Would they even recognize me? Finally, they arrived at my door.

I brought the box inside and tried to open it. There was enough packing tape to circle my house. I grabbed some scissors and carefully cut through it. I took the backpack out of the box and held my breath. Now, to set the mood, you can play the song below and imagine the next part of this article in slow motion.

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I slowly unzipped the zipper and gently lifted out my laptop. I carefully checked it. No dents, no scratches. Everything looked good. I plugged it in and opened it up, and there was everything just as I left it. Finally, we were reunited!

I started to do a happy dance in the kitchen, but stopped myself as I realized I wasn’t the only person home. If I could hug it without appearing to be too eccentric, I would have.

Life is back to normal now. Each morning when I get up, I turn on my laptop and spend a few quiet minutes alone with it before the rest of the house starts to stir. I’m back to my writing and enjoying my creative outlet.

So what did I learn from all of this? Never again will I leave my laptop in my backpack and abandon it. I don’t want to have to suffer from computer withdrawals again.

This time, I got lucky. But who knows about next time? Maybe my backpack would end up on a beach in Hawaii or perhaps on a Caribbean cruise. On second thought, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad as long as it took me with it?

Have you ever lost anything on vacation, and were you able to get it back? Please feel free to share your story in the comments below.