By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher
Apparently my baggage has been labeled “HEAVY.” That type of name-calling is not okay.
I’ve had to learn a lot about our new PC world. Political correctness, socially acceptable, modern conventional, not to mention the various assortment of initials – all the phrases. Mostly my children have taught me what I can now say and what I cannot say. Typically, it’s because I’ve said something now deemed inappropriate and unacceptable, and I hear, loudly, “Momma, you can’t say that.”
So, imagine my surprise when traveling last week, and I was confronted head on with a phrase that I’ve been schooled is not okay. And it happened more than once.
In all fairness, Mr. Kaminski was out of town. That’s how most of these issues arise. He really should never leave me unattended, hence I blame him. As I get older, I do accept the fact that I require constant, brutal supervision as I tend to stray, and my give a damn broke several years ago.
I was excitedly overpacking my bag as I always do, and in all fairness, I did my due diligence on the weight restrictions in his absence. I looked it up only to discover that my bag could weigh up to 70 pounds, no questions asked, no additional fees required. That’s akin to a ten-year-old child – at least that how’s I looked at it. With my perspective in tow, I felt somewhat confident with that analogy; however, I could not lift said bag to affix the little weight-checking doohickey that Mr. Kaminski typically uses for weight confirmation.
Throwing caution to the wind, I proceeded with the packing preparation. Joe picked me up at an ungodly 5 am, and I did query him on the weight issue. He felt I was good to go making me feel even more confident.
All was good until we actually arrived at the airport. I had my boarding pass, I had pre-checked my bags online, I was the epitome of preparedness. That is until I actually placed my bags – already tagged because I did that myself at the kiosk like a good little traveler – on the scale.
“No, you’re overweight,” commented the airline representative. Stunned, and taking the retort somewhat personally, I glanced at the number of 62 pounds on the scale and promptly shared my newfound expertise in baggage weights in a very polite manner.
“Sir, according to your website, my bag can weigh up to 70 pounds. That’s the standard weight limit for my ticket,” I politely replied with a big smile. Both of my bags were well under 70 pounds.
“No, you’re still classified as overweight. You will need to go back to the kiosk and reprint your baggage tags indicating that they are overweight. Anything over 50 pounds is classified as overweight.”
I trudged back to the kiosk and a sweet female airline representative took pity on me.
“He keeps telling me I’m overweight, and it’s hurting my feelings,” I shared with the sweet lady who promptly assisted me with reprinting my tags.
This time, my baggage tags had a new yet equally as offensive moniker attached to them. It said, “HEAVY” on a bright yellow tag no less.
“I really don’t appreciate you fat shaming my bags,” I relayed to the original baggage expert when returning to the scales. “There’s no reason for name calling and placing ugly labels on a bag when it’s in accordance with your rules. It really hurts my feelings, and I don’t think your language is socially acceptable. You really should focus on more positive language like full-grown, considerable or substantial. It’s much sweeter.”
He stared at me like I was speaking a foreign language, but he took my bags, and they made it to my destination. Lesson learned. See y’all next week – on the porch!
Patti Parish-Kaminski
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