Bag Snatchers on British Airways

Before I post my journal from my trip to Scotland, I must bitch about something that happened to me on the flight home from London. Thing is, I try so hard to be conscientious. For example, if I were to find a wallet, I wouldn't take anything out of it - I'd find out who it belonged to and get it back to them. If there was no identification, I might even place an ad in the paper under lost and found!

On Saturday, during my layover in London I stopped at Harrods to find gifts for those people I couldn't find gifts for while in Scotland. I bought a beautiful Wedgewood plate for my mother-in-law because she house-sat for us for two whole weeks, taking care of our pets and ensuring our house was hurricane-ready. I also bought a really cute Christmas ornament. On the plane, they came through to ask if anyone wanted to purchase duty-free items...I chose a teddy bear that's a female pilot (in a pink outfit with the leather cap and goggles) for my boss' upcoming baby girl (my boss is a pilot); and a limited edition box of Godiva chocolates for my dad.

After I bought everything, I transferred it all into the Harrods bag so it would be easier to carry when I got off the plane. I put the items under my seat and forgot about them. When I realized I'd forgotten, I went back to find that someone had taken my bag - and they didn't turn it in to the flight attendants.

The airport personnel was so nice - they were checking the passenger list for people sitting near me and catching them at customs. The supervisor tried to help me find who took it for over an hour - she was so great. But alas, whoever took it had already hidden it in their luggage and had no intention of giving it back. I hope whoever took it saw me frantic and in tears -- and that they have a conscience that will eat at them so bad it makes the chocolates taste rotten.

I do believe in karma, however and know that whoever took it will get theirs. It wasn't so much the money I was upset about (well, I was but I am over that now)...it was the fact that someone thought that they had a right to take the gifts that I bought for my family while I was on a vacation. It's not like I'm going back to London anytime soon!

I'll just have to take comfort in the fact that what comes around, goes around.