It’s happened to a lot of us: Standing at the luggage belt at the airport waiting for your suitcase. And waiting……..and waiting.
It happened to me about 15 years ago. My suitcase never arrived.
I filled out some forms, and the airline gave me a small portion of what I estimated I had lost.
But wait. There may be some hope for recovering our lost luggage. Did you know there is an UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE CENTER in
Scottsboro, Alabama.?
It’s a store over a block long, & they’ve got just about everything you can think of there, including designer clothes, jewelry, electronics, you name it. They’ve even got a museum with some really odd stuff that’s never been claimed, including a violin from 1770.
You can check out the UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE CENTER online, but if you wanna buy stuff, you’ll have to plan a trip to Scottsboro.
And if you see a Joe Montana jersey in the mix, I think it’s mine.

I Had been in the Philippines 2 or 3 days. I was being spoiled rotten. I’m not used to being spoiled, cuz I am always the one spoiling girlfriend Joy. But her family was treating me like royalty. I was sitting enjoying lunch with Joy’s brothers in law-Nester, Jay and Francis. “Guys, I’m feeling a little guilty,” I said. “So far, the family is doing everything for me.
I want to chip in. I’d like to buy lunch for everyone.” It was Nestor who said: “Larry, just relax, and enjoy the Filipino hospitality.” Hmmm Well in that case, I think I’ll have seconds. LOL
The patriarch of Joys’ family is 82 year old “Papa Choy,” who is making a miraculous recovery from a stroke. He still puts in a full day of work managing his properties, and doing his therapy. His lovely wife “Mama Luming” has a weakness for chocolates, so I brought her a few boxes from the states. (sugar free, of course)
“Papa Choys’” one request to me was to bring his daughter home to the Philippines more often. I promised him I would.
A big thanks to Joys’ family for everything. I slept in their houses, enjoyed their delicious Filipino food, and most of all their company. There was always a lot of laughing, singing, dancing, and love. As they told me: “A typical Filipino family.”
Before I left, I wanted to keep a promise to my Filipino friends in the states. They wanted a Manny Pacquiao t-shirt. The boxer is a super star in the Philippines, both for his boxing artistry and his charitable work. I kept my promise. My suitcase was packed with Manny Pacquiao. And Joy’s sister Terry presented me with a going away present of a Pacquiao “team jacket.” Beautiful. Joy’s kids saw it, & they wanted it.
Sorry guys, that jacket is off limits.
And “Papa Choy;” I promise I’ll bring your little girl back home within a year.
(I have lots of pics of the trip. You’ll see ‘em soon)

I KNEW THE QUESTION WAS COMING.
JOY’S OLDER SISTERS WERE SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM ME. TERRY AND SUSAN ARE WONDERFUL WOMEN, AND THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR SISTER.
AND THEIR SISTER IS LIVING WITH ME. ‘DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO MARRY?” JOYS’ YOUNGER SISTER YOLLY WAS LOOKING AT ME WITH A ”OH POOR LARRY” LOOK. LOL
‘NO, WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO GET MARRIED,’ I REPLIED. I TOLD THEM THAT JOY IS RECENTLY DIVORCED AND WE HAVE NO PLANS TO MARRY. I TOLD THEM AT THE MOMENT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE JOY HAPPY. THEY SEEMED HAPPY WITH THAT ANSWER. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN HOW WELL THINGS WERE GOING. YES, THERE ARE OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS, BUT I THINK THE WORLD OF JOY.
THERE WAS A MOMENTARY PAUSE, AND THEN SUSAN SPOKE: ” WE ARE A STRICT CATHOLIC FAMILY, AND WHAT DO I SAY TO MY DAUGHTERS ABOUT YOU SLEEPING WITH JOY WHEN YOU ARE NOT MARRIED?” HMMMM. THE QUESTIONS ARE NOT GETTING ANY EASIER. ‘WE ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CULTURES,” I OFFERED. “COUPLES LIVING TOGETHER IN THE U.S. IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE.”
THE CONVERSATION CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR. TWO WOMEN WHO LOVED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER MAKING SURE MY ATTENTIONS AS JOY’S “SUITOR” WERE HONORABLE. AND I THINK THEIR OPINIONS WERE GOING TO BE RELAYED TO MOM AND DAD.
THE CONVERSATION ENDED WITH HUGS. I NOTICED JOY WAS WATCHING. AS I WALKED TO HER TABLE, SHE GAVE ME A ‘THUMBS UP.’
I THINK I PASSED.

IT WAS A TERRIFIC WEEK IN THE PHILIPPINES, INCLUDING 4 DAYS AT BORACAY ISLAND, WITH ITS’ STORIED WHITE POWDER BEACH. (more later)
NOW I’M STANDING WITH ABOUT 50 OTHER PASSENGERS WAITING TO BOARD MY PLANE FOR THE FLIGHT HOME. IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT, ABOUT 8PM. A SECURITY GUARD APPEARS, AND ORDERS US ALL TO PUT OUR CARRY ON BAGS IN A NEAT LINE.
MOMENTS LATER, ANOTHER GUN-TOTING GUARD ARRIVES WITH A LARGE GERMAN SHEPHERD ON A LEASH. THE DOG, WITH TAIL WAGGING EXCITEDLY, PROCEEDS TO SNIFF ALL OF THE CARRY-ON BAGS. NO PROBLEMS. MY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE WENT UNDETECTED.
NEXT, IT WAS TIME FOR THE BAGS TO GO THROUGH A SCREENING PROCESS. I FIGURED THIS WAS THE END OF IT, RIGHT? WRONG.
AFTER THE BAGS WERE CHECKED, 5 PEOPLE IN LATEX GLOVES GIVE IT THE PERSONAL TOUCH. THEY THEN HAND CHECKED THE CARRY-ONS. I LOST MY COOKIE. WE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE BODY “PAT-DOWN,” SHOE EXAM, ETC. WOW. VERY VERY THOROUGH.
THE ENTIRE TIME, TWO GERMAN SHEPHERDS WERE SNIFFING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. HMMMM. THE LADY BEHIND ME SAID SHE HEARD SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH AN AIRPLANE IN THE
U.S.
DESPITE THE INCREASED SECURITY, MY PHILIPPINE AIRLINER LEFT RIGHT ON TIME.

TOMORROW I LEAVE FOR THE PHILIPPINES. AND THERE’S A VOLCANO THAT’S ABOUT TO ERUPT. IT’S BEEN ON THE NEWS EVERY NIGHT, AND SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED.
‘NOT TO WORRY,’ SAID JOY, WHO IS CURRENTLY IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT’S NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO OUR PROVINCE. HER ‘PROVINCE’ IS PAMPANGA, WHICH IS ABOUT A 45 MINUTE DRIVE FROM MANILA. EVERYBODY TELLS ME THE WOMEN OF PAMPANGA ARE KNOW FOR THEIR CULINARY ARTISTRY. HMMM SOMEBODY FORGOT TO TELL JOY. IT HAS TO BE TOLD: JOY SAYS SHE CAN’T COOK. HER SISTER SAYS JOY IS JUST BEING LAZY, AND THAT SHE’S REALLY A GOOD COOK. SHE JUST LIKES TO GO OUT FOR DINNER. HMMMM I SHOULD FIND OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL. I WILL BE THERE FOR A WEEK, AND HER SISTER HAS PROMISED TO ‘SPILL THE BEANS’.
I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING JOY’S PARENTS, KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS ‘PAPA-CHOI’ AND MAMA-LOUIE. AND OF COURSE THE 7 BROTHERS AND SISTERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LAW; THE 20 SOMETHING NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND THE MANY COUSINS, GOD-CHILDREN, ETC., IN THIS LARGE CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY. WOW, SOMEBODY WILL BE DOING A LOT OF COOKING. I KNOW ONE THING: IT WON’T BE JOY. LOL
AND NOW, ABOUT THAT BIG VOLCANO.

IT WAS SATURDAY MORNING, THE DAY OF JOY’S DEPARTURE TO THE PHILIPPNES. THE 50 POUND BOXES BOUND FOR HER FORMER HOME WERE ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR. INSIDE WERE CLOTHES, TOYS, SUNGLASSES, AND MANY OTHER ITEMS NOT EASILY AVAILABLE IN THE PHILIPPNES. JOY WAS EXHAUSTED. SHE WAS UP LATE PACKING. NOT ONLY THE BOXES, BUT THE ALLOWABLE LUGGAGE FOR HERSELF AND HER TWO SONS.
‘NO COOKING BREAKFAST,’ I SUGGESTED, AND WE HEADED OUT TO THE CAR FOR THE NEAREST RESTAURANT. WE LEFT ROCKY THE LOVABLE MUTT IN THE LIVING ROOM CHEWING ON A TOY. ROCKY IS ON PROBATION. HE -AHEM- DEPOSITED A PRESENT ON THE FLOOR THE PREVIOUS DAY.
THE KIDS WERE ALL EXCITED. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SEEING ALL THEIR COUSINS. JOY WAS WONDERING IF SHE FORGOT TO PACK ANYTHING. I ASSURED HER THAT IF SHE HAD, I WOULD BRING IT WHEN I LEFT. I ASKED JOY IF SHE REALLY HAD CLOSE TO 100 RELATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES. ‘YES, SHE LAUGHED, AND THEY’RE ALL COMING TO CHECK YOU OUT.” I DIDN’T KNOW WHETHER TO LAUGH OR CRY.
WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME, JOY TOOK A NAP, AND I HEADED FOR THE BARBER SHOP, AND THEN THE NAIL SALON. (JOY’S ORDERS)
I ALSO WENT LOOKING FOR A SHORT SLEEVE POLKA DOT SHIRT. JOY SAYS EVERYONE WEARS ONE ON NEW YEARS EVE FOR GOOD LUCK, AND LOTS OF PROSPERITY IN THE COMING YEAR. I COULDN’T FIND THE SHIRT.
THAT NIGHT, WE TOOK JOY AND THE KIDS TO THE AIRPORT. THEY WERE ADVISED TO BE 3 AND A HALF HOURS EARLY, CUZ OF THE EXPECTED BIG CROWDS. THERE WERE FOUR PEOPLE AHEAD OF US. CHECK IN TOOK 20 MINUTES. JOY HAD 3 HOURS TO KILL.
I ARRIVED HOME AND LOOKED AT MY EMPTY SUITCASE. NOW IT WAS MY TURN.

JOY WILL BE LEAVING AT MIDNIGHT SATURDAY DEC. 19TH. I’LL LEAVE THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY, SO JOY GETS THE ‘JOY’ OF TRAVELING WITH HER TWO KIDS, MATHEW AND BRANDON. I’LL BE GOING SOLO A WEEK LATER. BUT WHAT TO DO TO PREPARE”
“FIRST YOU HAVE TO GET A PEDICURE,’ ORDERED JOY. ‘A WHAT?”
I PLAYED DUMB. “YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR TOE NAILS CUT. YOU COULD HURT SOMEONE WITH THOSE THINGS,’ SHE TEASED. OK, OK. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET A PEDICURE. JUST MAKE SURE I AM NOT SITTING NEAR A WINDOW. IF ONE OF MY BUDDIES SEES ME, I WON’T HEAR THE END OF IT.
AS OF THURSDAY NIGHT, THE HOUSE WAS A MESS. TWO OF THOSE BALIKBAYAN BOXES WERE FILLED TO THE TOP: CLOTHES FOR MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, SUN GLASSES, TOYS, KOIT T-SHIRTS (THEY LISTEN ON LINE) 49ER & RAIDER FOOTBALL JERSIES. AND CHOCOLATE. LOTS OF CHOCOLATES. JOY SAYS HER FAMILY ESPECIALLY LOVES KIT-KAT AND TWIX CANDY BARS.
WHEN I WENT TO BED THURSDAY NIGHT, THINGS WERE IN COMPLETE DISARRAY. SUITCASES REMAINED TO BE PACKED, THERE WERE BOXES EVERYWHERE, AND ROCKY-THE LOVABLE, BUT PAIN IN THE BUTT LITTLE DOG, WAS CHEWING ON MY FLIP FLOPS.
FINALLY JOY DECIDED ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. “I’M GOING TO FINISH PACKING TOMORROW.”
I HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED YET.

MY GIRL FRIEND JOY WAS BORN & RAISED IN THE PHILIPINES, AND THIS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, SHE WILL BE RETURNING AFTER A TWO YEAR ABSENCE. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO JOIN HER.
YES, I WILL BE GOING TO MEET THE FAMILY; AND WHAT A FAMILY IT IS. SEVEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, 20 NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF COUSINS. OVER 100 IN THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT??
JOY SAYS THEY ALL GET A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. (GULP) I BETTER CHECK MY BANK ACCOUNT. THE KIDS ARE EASY. THEY ALL GET MONEY. BUT PROPER GIFTS FOR THE REST OF THE FAMILY MAY BE CHALLENGING. AFTER ALL, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE CARRIED ON THE AIRPLANE.
‘NO PROBLEM,’ SAYS JOY. ‘ WE CAN BRING TWO BALIKBAYAN BOXES.’ I WAS PERPLEXED. “TWO WHAT??”
(MORE TO COME)

IT WAS A RECENT SATURDAY. GIRL FRIEND JOY ASKED HER 8 YEAR OLD MATHEW TO TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE. ‘I CAN’T,’ SAID MATT. HMMM
I DECIDED TO GET INVOLVED. ‘WHY CAN’T YOU TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE,? ‘ I ASKED. ‘BECAUSE IT’S MY DAY OFF,’ BUBBLED MATT.
‘YOU HAVE A DAY OFF? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO DESERVE A DAY OFF?”
MATT WAS SERIOUS AS HE ANSWERED: ” I WORK HARD ALL DAY AT SCHOOL. ON SATURDAY I AM TIRED. SO IT IS MY DAY OFF.” JOY AND I WERE TRYING TO SUPPRESS SMILES. ‘WHAT ABOUT ME,” MATT. DON’T I DESERVE A DAY OFF?” ‘NO,” HE SAID. ‘ALL YOU DO IS TALK ON THE RADIO ALL DAY. BUT I WORK HARD AT SCHOOL. SO I TAKE SATURDAY OFF.”
HMMMM. I GUESS THE GARBAGE CAN WAIT TIL SUNDAY.

IT WAS LABOR DAY AND I WAS SCHEDULED TO WORK. THERE WAS NO REGULAR FERRYBOAT SERVICE, SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE. IT WAS A MAJOR HOLIDAY, SO PARKING WAS FREE. (OR SO I THOUGHT.) I PARKED AT THE CURB ON MISSION ST, AND WALKED TO THE RADIO STATION.
I FINISHED MY SHOW, AND WALKED TOWARDS MY CAR. UH-OH. TROUBLE. THE 7 OR 8 CARS I PASSED ALL HAD PARKING TICKETS. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT . OUR REVERED BOARD OF SUPES HAD CHANGED THE LAW. WE NOW HAD TO PAY FOR PARKING ON LABOR DAY. THEY CAN’T BE SERIOUS. BUT THEY WERE……..AND ARE. I WALKED TO MY WINDSHIELD TO GET MY TICKET. HMMM.
THERE WAS NO TICKET. I THOUGHT THE WIND HAD BLOWN IT OFF. BUT NO……BETTER THAN THAT. THE METER WAS BROKEN. OFF ALL THE METERS ON MISSION STREET THAT DAY, I HAD THE GOOD LUCK TO PARK MY CAR AT THE ONE METER THAT WAS BROKEN, SO I WAS NOT GIVEN A TICKET. UNBELIEVEABLE.