I don't know why I get a kick out of this little story, but I do:
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. - A World War II veteran from Indiana who served in France during the war has been reunited with his Army-issued duffel bag nearly seven decades after it went missing.
William Kadar, 92, of Merrillville opened a carefully wrapped package Tuesday to find his drab green duffel bag inside. The folded up bag is still stenciled with his name and serial number.
Kadar tells the Post-Tribune he last saw the bag soldiers use for toting their gear in November 1944, a month before he was captured by the Germans.
The story goes on to say a 16-year-old French boy found the bag in his grandfather's house, and it made me wonder whatever happened to my duffel bag. It's not the kind of thing I'd throw away -- hell, I never throw anything away -- but I've never stumbled across it, and I can't remember the last time I saw it.
I have vivid memories of hauling that thing around, especially through airports. A duffel bag is a very utilitarian piece of luggage. It's sort of like a giant woman's purse that you can just throw anything into. Of course the more you dump in, the heavier it is to carry, which is what vivid memories are made of.
