Stranded in Memphis, or Jamie got a gun....

We were supposed to fly to Arkansas again last night but our flight was canceled on their end for weather conditions. Ice storm in progress. Amazing, how the first time we went, courtesy of Unca Sam, it was in the single digits and the water pipes in our hotel froze. This time, apparently, the whole state is one big ice pond. Balmy in Detroit...

So this morning at zero-dark-thirty, we made the effortless 45 min drive to Detroit Metro Airport, bound to Arkansas via Memphis. Well, Memphis was as far as we would ever get. After our plane landed, we were boarded and deplaned twice before the airlines sent us packing, sans luggage. Yep--they would not return our luggage! They were generously doling out food vouchers which could only be used this day at the airport, but most of the vendors were already closed. Gee Thanks Guys. We had made friends with a gaggle of businessmen that were in the same situation as us. While Brian watched out belongings, the rest of us wandered the airport looking for a meal. The men all gravitated toward a place called Corky's BBQ, and whimpered like hungry mongrels that the restaurant was closed, yet the employees were still there. No sooner had one of the men sat up and begged, when a women threw open the gate and admitted us for pulled pork sandwiches! Wow! I ordered food for hub, but there was nothing for me. So I excused myself from the ravenous dogs and headed back to hub. On the way back, I saw a starbucks that was still open so I headed in to see if they had something for me. I noticed a small black bag sitting at an empty table and no one in the restaurant. I told the bored girl behind the counter that someone had left a bag and she phoned security.

Curiosity having the best of me, I opened the bag and did a double take, then felt my heart pound in my chest. In the bag, I found an MP3 player and earbuds, nicorette gum, and a fully loaded .45 Glock with two fully loaded magazines and a leather holster. After a quick check, I saw that the trigger lock was in place but how the HELL did this gun get through security? I felt it necessary to stay there until the bag was safely in the hands of the TSA, but unnecessary to tell the bored girl the contents of the bag. I waited and waited beside the bag, then asked to borrow her cellphone to tell hub why I was delayed. Her phone was out of minutes. No one came to claim the bag and no security showed up. After waiting nearly 15 minutes, a uniformed TSA agent meandered by and I flagged her down. I calmly told her that I didnt wish to alarm her, but that there was an abandoned bag containing a .45 glock and ammo. She stared at me. I watched her pupils dilate and her posture stiffen as she comprehended what I was saying. She got on her phone and called for a LEON team. Then she asked for my ID.

She was writing down my info when a pilot came running full tilt straight for us. His eyes were wild and he was pumping hard, nearly skidding to a stop as the TSA agent placed herself in his trajectory toward the bag. He was dripping sweat, visibly shaken, trembling and clearly panicking. After she affirmed that he was the owner of the...er...property, he dramatically begged her forgiveness and grabbed the bag, thanking her over and over again. I began to walk off, but I turned to him and admonished that he should be thanking ME for not going crazy when I found the bag. "You mean you looked inside?" he breathlessly stammered. "Of course I did. Who do you think called the TSA? But look, Dude, I'm like-minded, just not as careless as you. You got very lucky this time." He began running again as hub was approaching me. The disheveled pilot grasped our relationship and pointed to me, saying, "She is a lifesaver." Hub looked inquisitively at me, curious if this breathless man had anything to do with my delay. The corners of his mouth twisted into a sardonic smile as he said, "That guy will never forget this day." Um, neither will I.

We found a room at Comfort Suites Memphis and settled in. We may, however, be here for a while. The weather is treacherous, with a thick candy coating of ice over everything in sight. Memphis airport is closed. So is NW Arkansas Regional Airport. The hotel is filled with stranded folks exchanging war stories, but so far, no one has topped mine!