A Thankful Groomsmen Reflects on His Attendant Gift

I’m one of those guys who does not weekend around the house. I take care of things I need to do through the week so the weekend is mine and the best place I’d like to be is next to a running river. I have to be in an office all week so unless it’s pouring rain I want to get out and go places, do things that get my balance back on the weekend.

A neighbor invited me last weekend to go with him to see how I liked sharing his hobby: panning for gold. I’d never tried that before but hey, I’m up for trying something new. I do love being at a river and camping out is my idea of fun so why not? We didn’t find enough gold to cover our gas money but he assured me he’s found plenty. It was a great wilderness weekend so I may go again and pay more attention next time.

When it comes to spending a weekend or even a week away from home, one of the most versatile accessories you could want is a sturdy carry-all, a duffle bag. It helps a lot if it is as good looking and in step as the rest of your look so that it’s an integral part of your gear. I’m lucky enough to have one with my name on it and it didn’t cost me a dime. When my youngest brother Doug got married four years ago, I was one of his groomsmen and it was their gift to me as part of the grand occasion, along with an engraved flask that also gets plenty of use. Later I found out that he didn’t spend a penny to have the bag personalized for me, but that didn’t diminish the gift, instead it increased my respect for his smarts!

For life, liberty and the pursuit of adventure you’ll need your own duffle bag, and sure, you want it to look good – but look at the details to make sure it’s as durable as it is attractive. Mine is the first thing I reach for when I’m planning to get away for a weekend and it has stood up well to the last four years of hauling my gear around the country. I couldn’t help but congratulate Doug and his wife Betty again for the excellent choice they made back then when I ran into them yesterday. They thought I was talking about their wedding, but I was thinking about my great Groomsman’s reward: my duffel bag. I didn’t want to wreck it for them so I just let it go.