Meet Big Suitcase Girl

May 2024

Why the big suitcase, you ask? Well, I say: Why not?! Why carry on when you can overpack your biggest suitcase, check it, and have the freedom to carry on all the other stuff you may (or may not) need during your trip, be it business or pleasure? I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m a serial over-packer. I’ve also fully embraced this character attribute (some may call it a flaw, but hey, they can write about that judgment in their own column).

As an advancement professional (AKA: fundraiser), a great deal of my time is spent on the road. Yes, it’s primarily for “work” but I often reserve some time for fun and exploration on each trip. Even if I’m returning to a city that I’ve spent countless hours in. And, yes, before you ask, the stories you’ve heard are true…I often pack outfits for breakfast, lunch, and dinner meetings. For each day. You never know what the “meeting” will focus on, where it will take place, and what it will entail. It could be an early morning coffee meeting at a major consulting firm’s stunning new office in the iconic Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side. It could be a taco truck lunch (and bevvies) near the pier in Santa Monica. Or it could be a dinner waterside at a delightful restaurant on the “Vineyard” (I just love saying that). Without a doubt, the same rule applies for the shoes I pack. Heels, flats, and comfy (and broken in) walking shoes are a must. And, for those who know me well, which will include you as I hope you’ll keep reading, the shoes are strategically chosen to complement each outfit. This level of planning is a requirement in my book.

This is the perfect opportunity for me to pause and share a cautionary tale from the road: Ladies and gents, the “glamour” of air travel is a thing of the past. Something our parents and grandparents may have enjoyed and ‘dressed’ for. Within the last year or so I made the classic error of packing but not wearing my comfy shoes on an early morning flight (I choose to blame the 4:00 am wake-up call). As OKC is homebase for me, there are not a lot of nonstop flights available, so on this particular day I had a connection on my flight to San Francisco in Denver. Without fail when I have a tight window of a layover, my arriving flight rolls up to Gate 1 and my connecting flight departs from Gate 99. Just picture me schlepping through Denver International in heels in a frenzied attempt to arrive before they closed the gate door. Thankfully, on that trip, I made it with only moments to spare but I learned a valuable lesson I will not soon forget – save the lovely attire and shoes for later.

Now, back to the big suitcase obsession. Suffice it to say – Rick Steves, I am not. On my latest trip to New York and Connecticut, I packed the morning, noon, and night attire, as previously mentioned. And, given the forecast I checked multiple times on my weather apps, I brought a travel umbrella and my fun pink raincoat (more on her in a future entry). Always pack your umbrella, my friends. Or, if you forget but smile and ask nicely, you may be able to borrow one from the concierge at your hotel. Side note: I find New York, LA, San Francisco, and other major cities, to be much less “glamorous” to navigate when it’s gloomy and pouring buckets. PS, about the weather apps – check and doublecheck them. Don’t trust just one as I’ve found I can get a variety of forecasts. On this most recent trip back east, I would have been well-served to bring my long, grey puffy (waterproof) coat. It was the last week of March, but we can safely just call it late Winter for all intents and purposes. I was at least smart enough to pack several scarves and a pashmina (always good to have in your carry on, btw, as it can get brisk inside the plane). The wind that whips between tall buildings and off the water can slice right through outer layers if you’re not prepared for it. Once again, the trusty big suitcase proved super helpful in providing ample space for multiple layers and kept me from having to go shopping while my teeth were chattering. You are safe in your assumption that I still found a reason to do some shopping, however.

There’s much I can write and share about my POV on travel, which is exactly what I plan on doing. I’d love for you to join me on this journey, and I thank you for reading this first entry. I hope Big Suitcase Girl will offer insight, suggestions, highlights and sometimes a few lowlights, and a little levity around the big world of travel, no matter the size of suitcase you choose to bring.