I eagerly stepped off the plane to a bus which drove us out of the rain into the airport. As I made my way out of customs to luggage pick-up, I passed crowds of people eagerly awaiting loved ones with signs like “Welcome home, Jenny” or “We love you, Sam!” A wonderful way of greeting people who have been gone from their family, and an ever-so-dreadful way of welcoming people who had just left their families. Nevertheless, my bout of homesickness lasted approximately four-and-a-half seconds, for then I had other things on my mind, like finding the Heathrow Express to London.
Very quickly, I came to realize just how tired I was and how alert I must stay in public places; I was just about to board the train when a couple approached me and said, “Excuse me, Miss, is that your bag?” It was. The one with all my money, my passport, my chargers, my adapters — and my computer. Basically, if I were to lose one “most important possession,,” it would have been that satchel. Like a momma bear guarding her children, I raced to my treasure and returned in less than a second to the train, bag safely tucked under my arm, protected from the dangers of the world.