Paris le Tragique!

 

Paris Part III

The start of our day was the opposite of our first.  Everything went smoothly.  We knew what we were doing.  We packed quickly, and were leaving early enough that there was no time for breakfast.  C’est triste.  We checked in for our next flight.  We checked out of the hotel on time, and our driver arrived on time.  We got to the airport two hours before our flight left.  Everything was easy.

As we were unloading our bags from the cab, we noticed we were missing one.  And not just any bag.  It was Oscar’s bag.  With his souvenirs, and beloved stuffies, and iPad.  The driver couldn’t take us back to the hotel.  And we felt totally overwhelmed and defeated.  

We called the hotel, who luckily still had the bag.  But if we went back to get us it would cost us two cab rides, and we would likely miss our flight.  So the hotel gave the bag to a cab driver who was already there and sent him to us.  Which felt very vulnerable and potentially stupid.  The ipad was worth more than the fare would be.  And we had no confirmation that his stuff was even still in the bag – the driver could have taken it, or the person who turned it into the hotel could have.  We waited for an anxious hour.  The boys were very patient, but after we got the bag back Oscar had a pretty grumpy, tantrummy day.  So we think it was affecting him more than we noticed.  The cab took longer than expected to arrive.  By the time it got to us we only had 20 minutes to get through security before our flight closed boarding.  It was a long line and we were nervous the whole time.  And the rush through security meant that we didn’t have time to stop and get food – something that we wish we would have done when we were waiting for our bag.  But we didn’t want to miss the cab driver.  Anyway.  By the time we arrived at the gate people were already getting on the plane.  But everything was still in the bag, and nothing had been stolen or damaged.  It cost us 100 Euro.  Which hurts to think about.  And hurts even more to type.  But all things considered it was probably the best possible outcome to a frustrating situation.

I’m still not quite sure how it happened, though I am sure that it’s my fault.  I had the bags.  It was early.  We had two big days.  I swore I got all of the bags in the cab.  And to get to my seat I would have looked right past where our bags were sitting.  So I think I would have seen a bag if it was still sitting out.  But obviously I didn’t.  After the fact we realized that we had been vigilant and aware and present for every day for a month.  And even though we were not feeling fatigued, we probably were.  So I guess advice to anyone else on a trip like this – it’s hard to travel for eight weeks without making an occasional mistake.

It's not lost on us that the story very possibly could have been different.  We were all preparing ourselves for the likelihood that the bag would never arrive or that things would be missing from it.  And that would have been really sad.  I don’t know if it would have ruined the trip.  But it could have.  And we wouldn’t really be able to replace any of the stuff until we got back to the States.  And even then only at considerable expense.  We wouldn’t have gotten the bag back without the help of at least three honest people – whoever found the bag, the hotel staff, and the cab driver who brought it to us.  If any of them had been dishonest, it would have ruined things for us.

Obviously that would be true if they were thieves or crooks.  But even if they were just honest but apathetic busy people, we wouldn’t have gotten our stuff back.  If they had better things to do.  If they figured it wasn’t worth their time.  And it got me thinking.  We all have moments in our day when doing the kind thing sucks.  It is unprofitable.  It is obnoxious.  It takes time that we don’t have.  It doesn’t lead to any reward or benefit.  It’s not worth it.  Except to the little boy who’s missing his bag.

So the next time you find yourself able to help, I hope you do.  Even though you don’t have to.  Even though there isn’t anything in it for you.  Even though it doesn’t really matter to you, and it feels like it doesn’t matter to anyone.  Because it does matter to that little boy.  And I hope that you help him get his bag back.

If anyone feels like sending me 100 Euro I won’t say no.

Au Revoir Paris.