On more than one occasion last week, I sounded a lot like an infomercial.
As I’ve brought up the object of my admiration multiple times, several people in the newsroom have asked where the studio audience is — and why I’m not pointing at a toll-free number.
Ironically, all my cheerleading is for something I didn’t even know I wanted. My over-the-top enthusiasm is for an item that I bought for my older daughter for Christmas and didn’t return.
Granted, I didn’t return it because I tried it and could tell that this thing had the potential to be life-changing.
I was right.
She had asked for a roller bag for Christmas — not a suitcase, but a bag that she could use to roll her groceries from her car and up the elevator to her apartment, or down the street to the corner store. She broke her right arm about a year ago. Even though it’s much better, she is limited on what she can carry. She thought the rolling bag could be a great solution.
So, I researched roller bags and found that a bag by a company called “Hulken” was generally considered to be among the best. The bags are not cheap — even on sale. On Black Friday, I bought a medium-sized one for $97 — which is still a lot of money, but this daughter rarely asks for anything.
I wanted to give her something that would make daily life a little less tiring, a little easier and maybe a little less frustrating.
On Christmas morning, she opened the gift and seemed delighted. Later, I learned that she had already bought a different (less expensive) rolling bag. I told her I would give her the money and send this one back.
And, like I said, then I used it.
This is where the story turns, morally speaking.
It has changed my life.
For all of my days, I’ve had a problem of forgetting to bring things with me in the morning on my way to school or work. With this giant, impossible to miss bag, whenever I think of it, I just place the item inside. The bag, which holds up to 66 pounds, is so lightweight that I have no problem transporting it up and down stairs — after all, this is the stuff I would typically be carrying in my arms.
What I didn’t realize until now is how much low-grade stress I carry around trying not to forget things — and how much lighter life feels when that stress rolls beside you instead of hanging from your arms.
And the rolling!
Honestly, sometimes I find myself smiling because it rolls so smoothly.
I realize the absurdity of my enthusiasm for this product, but when I find something like this that improves the quality of my life to the extent that this one has, I want to share it.
Yes, there are dupes and copycats — and I can’t speak to them. I don’t know if their wheels are made of what must be a combination of fairy dust and butter. If NASA ever needs help moving equipment, I have a suggestion.
Can’t see the video below? Click here.
With a little research, I learned that the bag was invented by the father of a Swiss musician named Yoni Sheleg — a man who spent a lot of time schlepping gear from place to place.
His father built him a rolling bag to make life easier. During COVID, Sheleg and his wife, Alex Schinasi, turned that solution into a company.
The sweetness that it was a father who was trying to make his son’s life easier is not lost on me.
I get that my excitement about this thing may make little sense to those who haven’t had the pleasure of pulling one of these bags.
But the delight is real. This week, I’ve said to people — including a complete stranger who commented on my oversized rolling bag: “You have to pull it to see how smooth it glides!”
Then, I convince them to try rolling it so they can share in my awe.
Maybe part of getting older is recognizing when brute force isn’t the best option anymore — when there’s a smarter, kinder way to move through the world.
I didn’t buy this bag for myself, but it turns out I needed it.
And if you see me smiling while pulling an oversized silver rolling bag down the street — no need to worry. I’m fine.
I’ve just discovered the quiet joy of not carrying everything the hard way anymore.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
