A lesson in awareness ....

This is a post that I wrote after I arrived in Florida for a seminar. I wrote it a few hours after the incident, so here goes:

It’s been a long time since I’ve had an interview of any kind, but I experienced one today on my trip to Florida. My flight from Atlanta to Tampa started okay, but my day had been long, and I was tired. When I boarded the plane in Atlanta, I had a ticket for an aisle seat, but an older lady had already perched herself in it and asked me to take the middle seat instead. I said that I would take the middle seat so that she could be comfortable. A guy was sitting at the window, and he was talking to a guy in the middle seat in the row in front of us. I offered to change seats with the guy so that they could travel together and they declined saying that they were “sick of each other” by then. I didn’t think anything of that since both guys were well dressed and polite. So, the plane takes off, we fly through the air, and we get ready to land in Tampa.

I was looking across the guy in my row to see the ocean and he asked me if I’d been to Florida before. I told him that I had years ago, but not to Tampa. He asked why I was coming to Florida and I simply said that I was coming in on business. I asked him what he did for a living and there was a very long pause. “I’m in the tobacco business” is all he says. I smile and simply say “that’s nice.” He then asks me what I do and I tell him that I’m a chiropractor. He chuckles and tells me about how a chiropractor helped him with his neck pain and headaches. I laugh along and tell him that chiropractic works for lots of things but especially with health and wellness and that I spend many hours a day telling people to stay out of his business. He chuckles at that and tells me that his purpose is to give medical people business. The plane is getting ready to land, and he asks me where I’m staying. I tell him that I’m staying in a different town than I am because by now I’m getting the feeling that I’m being interviewed. I had noticed some looks going back & forth between the two guys, so I decide to be vague. Oh, I forgot to mention that the second guy got moved across the aisle so that a couple could sit together. So these two guys could pass looks to each other easier.

It was also about this time, while he’s asking me about my plans in the area and how long I’ll be there, etc. that I notice the guys hands. His nails are all very clean and closely trimmed, except his little fingers. The little finger nails are both long and filed sharp. Now I KNOW that I’m being interviewed and that this could get interesting before the day ends. I’m not scared because we’re in a very public place, but I wanted to be sure to be gone before they followed me out of the airport. Once the plane landed and taxied into the terminal, I had decided that if I get flanked by them and they try something in the terminal, I’ll fight my best, scream and yell and make as much of a display as possible. I had already decided that if their plan is violence, I will force them to do it in public and I will not go anywhere with them.

As our row stands up to get off the plane, I try to get into the overhead bin and can’t reach my cane that I had stored in there. The guy sitting next to me asks if he can help me, so I ask him to hand me my cane. He does, and he shares another look with his partner. I think I just let them peg me as an easy target. I walk off the plane, and I’m limping a bit because my leg is sore from sitting so long. I find the signs that lead me to the baggage claim and realize that I have to take a tram. I hate the things, but I don’t have a choice, so I get on. The two guys did flank me there. One went in the same door that I did, the other another door farther down the tram. I watch where they are in the glass of the tram, and hold on until we get through the ride.

I'll note that I carry a cane when I fly for a couple of reasons. 1) I'm still healing up a lumbar disc herniation that flares up when I sit in a cramped space for extended periods of time, and 2) nobody sees a cane as a self-defense weapon.

We approach the baggage claim area and I don’t see any signs for the rental car company that I’ve booked a car through. Also, our baggage claim area is secluded from other airlines. I am again flanked by the two guys, and I keep an eye where they are. I keep my cane in my hand, and go through a plan in my head. I will not leave with them, no matter what. I will not let them know that I am feeling hunted so that they don’t feel the need to escalate anything. I just follow the people to the baggage claim area. I just now realize (while writing this) that I had identified exit points and security guards before I even got the carousel. The guys again flank me at the baggage area. Now the one I wasn’t sitting with is standing next to me, the other guy is on the other side of the belt.

The second guy tries to strike up a conversation with me. He asks me where I’m from, what I’m doing in town, etc. I remain pleasant and polite, but vague about my plans. I let him know that I’m in town on business, that I am a chiropractor in Nebraska, and that is about it. By this time, his bag arrives, but he stays with me. The other guy’s bag hasn’t arrived yet, so I am hoping that mine arrives first or things have a potential to escalate. My bag arrives, and the guy next to me asks if he can grab it for me. I politely tell him “no” and quickly wrap my name tag around the handle into my hand so that my name isn’t in view.

I then notice the two guys eyeing each other. They begin a conversation across the carousel about their second bag, and the guy next to me asks me if I have a second bag. I tell him no, and thank him for the offer of grabbing my bag, and I turn to find the car rental place. I still don’t see any signs, but I do see a very large security officer, so I approach him and ask him about the car rental place. The security guy had apparently been paying attention to what was happening, because he raised an eyebrow to me when I asked for directions and nodded to the guy who was standing next to me. I smiled to him, hoping that he would understand what I was trying to do. The security guy was quick, and instead of just pointing me to the shuttle, he escorted me outside to the shuttle area. I knew I was safe now, so I was able to allow myself a sign of relief and just get on the shuttle to the car place and get on with my day.

This was an interesting situation for me to be in, because I have honestly felt that I am no longer in the demographic for a target for most people. I’m not young, I’m not small and frail, and I don’t resonate with innocence anymore. But, this taught me a lesson to be even more on guard than I already am. I didn’t really experience fear, because everything was done in public and I knew that I would fight literally to my death if need be before I went anywhere with them. I was thankful to have had my cane with me, because it is a good weapon to have when traveling. People don’t see a cane as a weapon, especially if the person who carries it limps.

I am very thankful that I have the training that I have, and that I was able to recognize an interview in progress. Had I not understood what was going on, I may have been more forthcoming with my destination, plans, etc. and if they had determined that I was a good target, they may have tried to come after me even after leaving the airport. I have no idea if that would have happened, but I’m glad that I have some awareness training and paid attention to the situation. No harm done, but a good reminder to be vigilant and aware of my environment.

House painting progress -- almost done! :)

Okay, I started this project in March, and now it is September and I am saying that it is "almost" done. There is one wall left in the living room that is not painted because there is a very heavy upright piano along that wall. We need to figure out how to move the piano out enough to paint behind. The laundry room and small bathroom off the laundry room are not done either - those will be done later. I'm sick of painting!

However, the house is looking wonderful! Our friends helped us pick out fabulous colors and my mother-in-law sacrificed a lot of time to help me with the project. It definitely feels more like a home now. :)

Here are some pictures.
Kitchen

Kitchen

Dining room

Dining room

TV room

TV room

My office

My office

Spare bedroom

Spare bedroom

Master bathroom

Main bathroom

Hallway off kitchen

Master bedroom

As you can see by the photos, I'm not quite done cleaning and organizing things yet, but it is definitely getting closer!