Suitcase opening ceremony....

How much ever I try not to get excited when seeing folks just returned from India, I fail miserably every time. My parents just returned from India and opened up the suitcases to distribute stuff that they brought from there. The sweets and savories, provisions and textiles, calendars and home made stuff are just a few of many things that traveled the pacific ocean. Every time I would be amazed at how my parents could remember those tiny little things that we would need in our day-to-day lives and pack those stuff in those suitcases.
Packing the stuff into those suitcases is a very intricate process perfected only by a few that I know of and my grandmother and dad have Ph.Ds in that. Suitcases have to be packed and weighed to withstand some of the worst conditions in the hands of the baggage handlers. It never fails to amaze me how those fully packed 70 pounders actually make it the whole way without giving away. It has given away a couple of times for us and the airlines have been kind enough to refund us for the losses.
The suitcases opening episodes are the best part of these trips. All of us sit around the suitcases as each item is removed and given to its rightful owners. I never ask for anything so whatever I get is always a surprise for me. Every item in that suitcase will have a unique story behind it on how it got to travel this 10000 miles. I would wait for those stories.
I think, I will have to wait another year for the next suitcase opening ceremony.