Everything seemed so normal on the flight last week from LA to Frankfurt. I mean, yes, there were the usual quirky moments, like the transvestite security agent at the Frankfurt airport, or the casual brush with Fabio in the passport line at LAX (yes, that’s Fabio the famous model from the covers of all those bodice-ripping novels… more recently famed for his unfortunate encounter with a bird on a roller coaster in So Cal). So I wasn’t entirely prepared for the surprise once we got to the LAX luggage belt.

We simply waited.

And waited.

And everyone else waited too.

For hours…

…jetlagged, disoriented, and gazing enviously at passengers from other flights who happily grabbed their luggage and escaped from LAX’s underground luggage prison…

And finally …rumors spread that ‘they’ absolutely could NOT get the door on the luggage compartment open. That’s 300 Lufthansa passengers without luggage. I mean, how can you not get the door open? Are you telling me that there is NO ONE at one of the busiest international airports in the world who knows how to work the doors on a 747 ? I pulled out my Mr-Seven-Hands screwdriver and graciously offered to lend a hand, but there were no takers. Instead, some genius at Lufthansa said “hey, send the plane back to Frankfurt and we’ll deal with it here”.

WHAT ?! WHAT ABOUT OUR STUFF ?! I HAVE CUTE SHOES IN THAT LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT !!

So back the plane went, to Germany. Somehow they got another 300 passengers on the plane, too (AND all their luggage – presumably in another compartment?).

Back at the luggage belt, I observed a young mother with an infant and a toddler. She asked the Lufthansa guy “what am I supposed to do without baby seats?” Another couple was on their way to New Zealand that same day via Australia, and had no address at their destination. They wondered if they’d ever see their bags again in this lifetime. I conversed with a German gal in the ladies’ room, and we secretly agreed this event had the potential to be God’s gift to women: NOW WE MUST GO SHOPPING !! (but we have to pretend like it’s a big hassle, see…) The other girl decided she was going to acquire the “So Cal beach bunny” wardrobe, and I sagely recommended sassy halter tops, colorful sarongs, and flip flops with flowers on top.

So anyhow we finally exited baggage claim….bagless… on that Friday afternoon, and were enthusiastically greeted by Mom with her homemade sweets and big hugs! THANKS MOM!

Saturday came, and then Sunday…… still no luggage. At around noon on Sunday, it was time to head for my friend Deanna’s wedding (yes the same jetsetting Deanna that we met up with in Zurich & Paris last summer). Soenke once again put on the clothes he had worn on the airplane (day three, still smelling ok, I can confirm), & I threw something together from the remnants in my California closet. I donned high heels for the first time in over year, & Soenke pronounced me “HOT”.

Off to Temecula, southern California’s wine country, for a totally gorgeous So Cal wedding. Brian and Deanna tied the knot outside, surrounded by vineyards, friends, and sunshine. The reception was gorgeous – inside a big tent with freeflowing champagne, delicious food, and fantastic music. Deanna looked STUNNING – her dress was like a piece of fine art. Even their dog joined the fun, sporting a little sign saying “Just Married”! THANK YOU DEANNA FOR INVITING US, WE HAD A WUNDERBAR TIME!

[Our luggage finally did arrive on Monday night, and looked like it had been hurled from the airplane at 30,000 feet. Whatever….we were just happy to have clean underwear!]

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Deanna & Brian just pronounced “Man & Wife” !

Their dog joins the fun:

Enjoying the reception:

Deanna’s friend has HOT SHOES!