Before I opened the box, I knew what was in there

I’d ignored our suitcase closet for years. It’s a jumble of luggage that’s a testament to our travels — duffel bags for camp, lightweight suitcases for overseas trips, carry-on bags to avoid luggage carousels at airports. Those weren’t the problem. But we had a set of five matching suitcases that no longer fit airline criteria, and we never used them — not even for car trips — because they’re heavy and bulky. For years, we talked about just getting rid of them, but there were too many logistics involved — sorting through the closet, schlepping them out of the house and finding a place to donate or dispose of them. It felt easier to just let them take up space in a closet we rarely think about.

Last week, I had some free time and decided to tackle it.

I pulled the offending pieces of luggage out of the suitcase closet, which is in a small storage room. As I organized the suitcases that weren’t getting tossed, my younger son took the suitcases destined for the dumpster. He was happy to participate in this task; he hates any sort of clutter. Leaving the room, he gestured to the opposite side, and asked, “Will you do that closet, too?”