The Red Luggage

In my eighteen year old mind I could not understand the desire my mom had for red luggage. In the Peterson home it was a regular topic of conversation. There was no mystery about what mom wanted for Christmas and Santa Dennis (my dad) delivered. My mom was so happy; you would have thought a free trip came with that luggage. To my mom the red luggage represented a world of possibilities. She dreamed of taking this luggage on cruises and trips, adventure was calling. After all, her youngest (me) was about to graduate high school and leave for college… her and my dad were free! As always my mom was prepared; she had the luggage tags filled out and a pretty ribbon tied around the handle for easy identification at the airport. Needless to say my mom was ready for a vacation and we all knew she deserved it.

The time came for me to leave for college. To my parent’s surprise (and mine) I chose a college across the country. The night before we were to leave for Virginia I was a mess… I was trying to cram all my belongings into an old suitcase. I was so afraid I’d get there and then find I forgot something I needed. That is what I told myself anyway but the truth was I was afraid I’d get there and realize I still needed my parents. Was I a big enough girl to be on my own? I’m sure my mom saw right through my façade, but instead of telling me so she wheeled in her brand new, never been used, beloved red luggage. She smiled and said, “I want you to take this to college”.

I will never forget that moment. I felt two distinct feelings: One, I didn’t deserve this luggage and two, she did. To both of us that luggage represented adventure and she was handing me her adventure. Though I was eighteen and at times selfish, her sacrifice was not lost on me. Her and my Dad had worked hard so that I could go to college and now she is giving me her luggage to do it. We made it to Virginia and once I was all settled in my parents had to leave. I have not forgotten my parent’s faces as they were leaving. I could tell that they were as nervous to leave me as I was for them to leave. Nevertheless, college was a hit and true to the late bloomer I am, I hit my stride.

“The red” and I went on many adventures and weekend trips (some the rents didn’t know about… some they did). It took me back home many times. I took the red on my most beloved mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It came with me on my honeymoon and even to the hospital for the birth of my first child.

When I look back at some of the best moments of my life, I got there holding my mom’s red luggage and in essence I was holding my mom. My mom couldn’t be with me in college, on my mission or my honeymoon (definitely not my honeymoon), but she sent her luggage. I never stopped thinking of “The Red” as my mom’s luggage because I knew in my heart that it belonged to her, but she gave it to me so willingly and with the hope that I would have my own adventures.