The Stories Still Packed Away

My husband and I were packing for a destination wedding. Unlike most trips, we chose to pull our larger luggage pieces from the top shelf of my closet. Normally, we use carry-on bags for convenience, but the wedding required more than a bathing suit and flip flops. We would be spending the extended weekend with lots of other people which required me to pack with every imaginable circumstance in mind. Sightseeing opportunities required comfortable shoes with plenty of layers for inclement weather. I hate to be cold, so the bulky raincoat was rolled and packed. Fancy dress required fancy shoes. And then of course, fancy shoes required the fancy purse. So, I went to work with a step stool to pull the seldom used bags from the top shelves of my closet. Dust aroused and after a sneezing rant, I found myself enjoying a trip down memory lane.

Apparently I’m not very good at unpacking. As I opened and prepared the suitcase for my folded piles of clothes, I discovered treasures from past trips. Scattered and tucked in those little zippered pockets and elastic tight pouches were remnants from big vacations that made me literally sit in my closet and reminisce about excursions from years ago.

I found a ticket stub which made me remember that visit to Florence, Italy in 2017. And then there was the restaurant cocktail napkin from the restaurant in Vancouver, Canada folded and smashed between suitcase dividers. The cruise ship luggage tag put me on the deck of the ship with my sister sipping the loveliest glass of wine as the sun set over the Mediterranean sea. Oh how I wish to be there again. And then there are the random coins whose currency are identified by their country’s emblem.

What I really loved, however, was going through my old evening purses. Most of them were my mom’s; many were even my grandmothers. I swear, some of them still smell like my grandmother. Inside one was a handkerchief lined with lace and embroidery. My grandmother never went anywhere without a clean and pressed hanky in hand. Memories of her always appearing put together with coiffed white hair and pastel soft leather gloves ignited recollections from so many years ago. I gently tucked the handkerchief back into the purse where it will always be protected by the sweet memories of my grandmother and her smile that lit up the world.

My mom has been gone almost 11 years, but low and behold, inside the ivory evening purse with the delicate gold chain was one of her lipsticks. Unlike this decorative and tiny evening wear, my mom’s purse was always cluttered with mementos of her children and even grandchildren from years gone by. The fact that one of her lipsticks made it to her seldom used evening purse made me chuckle. It made me remember the time my mom was doubled over in hysterical laughter because she noticed a bottle cap in her stockings. I tucked the lipstick back into her purse for next time I rediscover the opportunity to remember her with love and tenderness.

We recently returned from our destination wedding. As I unpacked, I recalled my delight in finding treasures from the past which I discovered in these bags just days before. Call me a hopeless romantic, but as I zipped up the empty suitcase and returned it to the top shelf of my closet, I hoped I left something behind to be rediscovered another day which will make me smile in remembering how lovely it was to be part of such a delightful wedding. If nothing else, I know where to find some pretty special lipstick.