Why she’ll always be my dear wife Karen, Chapter I’ve lost count:
When the mail came today, I was handed a bubble envelope and told to open it.
A present had arrived via U.S. post, ordered special by my beloved spouse. Alas, it came six days late for my Beddian Birthday but five days before Christmas.
Karen couldn’t wait to give this to me.
Set for world travel is Captain Poblano. (Illustration by Wormy)
Captain Poblano is now my luggage tag.
Karen sent a smart company the Nano Poblano illustration of The Head cooked up by Wormy of the hilarious blog Love Marriage Worms, and they’d turned it into a two-sided beacon of Bialczakness. Name, address and phone numbers are on the flip.
Ready for the next excursion.
I am set to go. The Captain will stand out in a crowd, helping me pick out my big Tote-brand, duffel-style, wheeled bag out on any airport carousel or in any suitcase-logged cruise line terminal.
Have you received a personalized gift such as this, and if so, what? What do you use to mark your luggage for easy identification? What kind of luggage is your preference?
Mark Bialczak 
that is too sweet! I can see why you lose count. Where will you take the tag first, Mark?
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We have a trip to D.C. when April breaks to see Neil Diamond in concert and the cherry blossoms on the mall, Liz, because my dear wife Karen has yet to see either and reminded me they are both on her bucket list. I don’t think the Captain tag will travel before that. 🙂
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Love it!
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🙂
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That Mrs. B sure is a clever one! How creative and perfect. You better plan a trip soon so you can use it. Are you sure there were no airline tickets hidden in that bubble envelope?
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I am darn sure of that, Mrs. B. The duffle and the Captain go to Cape Cod in June, though. 🙂
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Awwww how sweet.
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Yes, very, Kim. 🙂
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How thoughtful! Humans constantly amaze me. Stuff like this restores my faith. And that’s a fantastic bag. Sufficiently scruffy.
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You got it right on both accounts, Mark. My wife is amazing, and my travel suitcase is as scruffy as I want it to be. 🙂
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THAT is so awesome! I already knew Karen rocked, but this just proved it even more! (Now where will you go first?) My favorite luggage? (Oh, you shouldn’t have asked…) Any luggage that used to be FREE to put on the plane without paying extra! GRR! (Sorry, but I did warn you. I’ll stop now, but you get the idea.) 🙂
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Yes, Rachel, here is the place to get your grrrrr out!
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Nice! Now to just hope there isn’t some bad guy who goes by the alias “Captain Poblano” on the No Fly List….
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Now you’ve made me add “Google Captain Poblano” to my to-do list, Bill. Great … Mark and his top 10 frets.
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I love personal gifts like these. Travel on, peppery one!
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To start April, the Captain and DW Karen are going to D.C. to see Neil Diamond in concert and the cherry blossoms on the mall, both on her bucket list. 🙂
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Karen has your number, Mark. The luggage tag is lovely and no one will ever mistake their luggage for yours as a result. A double gift: Happy Birthday and Christmas. 😉
Years ago, I took the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective card that came with a video and photocopied it. Then, I put in luggage tags. I’m sure security is watching me carefully at the airport, but I’ve never had a problem with anyone mistaking my luggage for theirs.
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Great identifier, Judy. And thanks for your well-wishes. I second what I said on your special Santa blog just now, my friend. Merry and Happy to you, Dave, the kids and the grands!!
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What a unique gift, and I’ll bet Karen enjoyed the planning and anticipation of giving it to you. Nice story, Mark. 🙂
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Awww. I agree a thoughtful gift, indeed. Karen’s a keeper, if we all didn’t already know it before, Mark. Awesome!
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It’s very thoughtful, I agree, Aud.
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She is the DEAREST wife indeed!!!!! 🙂
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Dearest! I have to add three more letters. Good call on that one, Colleen.
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this is such an amazing gift. what a treasure you have found in your wife, karen and what a treasure she has found for you. what a lucky couple you are )
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Yes, a memento I can take with me on our adventures. It is such a cool treasure indeed. Thanks, Beth.
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Awesome gift Mark – Karen is great.
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She is and it is, Paul. Thanks.
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Mighty spiffy tag you have there.
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Thanks, Apple Pie. I am spiffed up with the luggage.
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Okay, Captain Poblano. You’re all set to travel the world and spread the joy of Nano Poblano across the globe.
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This is team spirit, Doobster. I can visit Poblaners everywhere!
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That is truly hysterical! I love it. Good one Karen! 😀
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Thanks, Colleen. MDW Karen outdid herself with this one!
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I’ll say! Well done Karen.
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You and she are quite an excellent pair of givers, Mark! It makes me smile at your wonderful example to Elizabeth and her man, too. Happy Holidays, Mark!
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She is awesomeness personified! That is the coolest gift EVER! Did you burst out laughing when you saw it? Oh, you will not be surprised that a Westie adorns my luggage tag.
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I tore open that envelope and indeed cracked up laughing in delight! It’s a sturdy, well-made tag, too, leather strap … I’m a happy Captain. Yes, you deserve a Westie luggage tag. Soundtrack of barking somehow would help you find it in a crowd, too. Hmmm, how could we work that out, Barbara?
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What an awesome gift! Whenever John travels for business, I tie bright yarn to his luggage so he can pick it out easily. I’d say your method is niftier. 😀
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The bright yarn trick is really good. Karen uses a bright purple lanyard. I’ve used a black lanyard with a colorful old press pass from a music festival on it. But the Captain can’t be missed, Nerdy. 🙂
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Thoughtful gift indeed.
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It is, Ros. My California Girl wife comes through yet again!
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That is awesome!
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Thanks, PJ. It is!
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Cool!
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It makes me very happy, Jennifer. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
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Karen is the best! And so is that tag (and you, too, Captain).
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I am almost speechless by this gift, Ann. Oh, heck, I’m never almost speechless, but you know what I mean. Thanks for sharing my sentiment. 🙂
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She is a real keeper
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Thanks, Gale! Indeed she is.
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Reblogged this on galesmind and commented:
Captain my captain!! When are we going to do it again???
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