Last Sunday we left my parents home to fly back to Sweden, we went by car the 200km needed to get to Arlanda Airport, Sweden's biggest airport located just outside Stockholm.
The car trip went fine and after saying goodbye to my parents we went inside the terminal to check in. When approaching the check-in desks we noticed a huge queue of travelers waiting for their turn and I decided to go and check further down the building if queues would be somewhat shorter. Our plan was that Caro should stay in line with other passengers and guard a place in case my findings would be negative.
So off I went and left Caro last in the queue with all the baggage that we had.
When I reached the end of the building I found 4 check-in counters that where for people that had already checked in using the available check-in machines provided in the terminal. These queues where much shorter and all people really did here was to drop of their baggage and get it registered on their boarding passes. So off I went again to check-in myself at one of the machines.
At this time I tried to look if I could see her in the queue, I could not!?
Anyway, check-in was now priority one... for once I have to say that these machines are very clever and easy to use, I just gave our booking reference and answered the question about how many suitcases we had (2), out comes boarding passes and we are clear to leave the baggage at the drop-off counter... So I start looking for Caro, and find... nothing.... except our baggage standing in the middle of the floor.
At this moment my first feeling was (anger), how can my love (normally very clever & calm) leave baggage unattended at an airport in times of terrorist threats and when airport personnel repeatedly announces in their speaker systems that "any unattended baggage will be confiscated".
Just as my thoughts are being processed through my brain I find a, let me say, bit stressed and indignant Caroline, desperately trying to find out where I am.
So, I approach her and begin to decode all the information that is now rapidly given to me:
"My handbag is gone... bla.bla. bla... passport... bla.bla.bla... I cannot leave Sweden... bla.bla.bla... stop your parents!!!"
At this time i realize that our baggage is not about to be confiscated so I quickly grab my telephone and start looking for my parents mobile number, begging to gods that they have kept their phone turned ON!
After mis-dialing my mums number 3-4 times I finally manage to get through, remembering my first words to be:
"Stop! Caro's bag must still be in the car... return!".
Seconds are important here as they might get up on the motorway anytime and deviating from this path might not be possible for a long time...
My mum says that they have no bag with them and that if WE do not have the bag... Caro probably must have left in our house (200km away)!
At this moment I can feel at least a couple of tears of sweat pouring through my forehead... this would mean (god forbid) NO return with the booked flight and a trip back to my parents home to pick-up the bag and then return and sort out another flight to Geneva.
A microsecond later I see the light!!! Under Caro's arm, just beside my backpack that she is now carrying, I can catch a glimpse of her handbag! ;)
I quickly tell my parents to forget about all I just said and continue their return to their home.
Then Caro and me leave the baggage at the drop-off counter and go through security check, later on we board the plane and safely return to our home in France.
This is the first time that I ever find my girlfriend in a state where she has lost control of herself... she later this and says "I use to have everything planned/structured and in order... I always laugh about when people tells me similar stories about pregnant women, now however I understand what they mean!"
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