My crazy cowboy boot experience at the airport
Embarrassing to say the least
I was cleaning out the closet and I came across an old pair of cowboy boots. Cowboy boots! I only wore them once, years ago, and that day I was stopped by the FBI or airport security, not sure who they were.
This was way before 9/11 so flying wasn't as troublesome as it is today. I was going to a wedding in Cleveland and I had to make one stop on the way - in Atlanta, I was coming from Miami.
I was at the Atlanta airport between flights reading the papers, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, which were two separate newspapers at the time - today they are combined as one. Anyway, I can picture myself sitting with the paper up to my face reading.
Two guys in suits come up to me. I don't remember the exact words, but they wanted to know what was in my boot! I don't know if they followed me all the way from Miami or just spotted me in Atlanta, but they saw me reach into my boot a couple of times.
I slowly reached in and took out my wallet! I was carrying my wallet in my boot. Back then I carried a full wallet, sort of like George Costanza's wallet, and it was more comfortable to not sit on it on the planes.
I explained to them I was going to Cleveland and just holding the wallet there and whatever. They may have felt foolish, but they were being cautious and I understand that.
One of the guys said he wanted to look in my luggage, I guess to throw off their embarrassment. I told him it was on the plane headed to Cleveland with me. And that if they wanted, the could follow me to Cleveland and look at it there.
I remember their final words exactly, "Maybe we will."
As they walked away, I shrunk back into my seat and went back to reading my newspapers, as all the people in that area of the airport stared at me.
The guys never did meet up with me in Cleveland and that was the end of that story. But that was the one and only time I wore those boots. Not because of the wallet incident, just because they were uncomfortable and I'm not a cowboy.
That was the first and last time I ever took a connecting flight. But I do have a connecting flight coming up in June for another wedding. So let's see how this trip goes. I'll let you know.
Receive an email each time I publish this Tomversation blog
by clicking here
