Confession: This was not the first time.
As I am in line it usually hits me with what I failed to do or accidentally wore, this time it was my bright red Christmas socks (months after the holiday has passed). I begin placing all my items in the designated buckets trying to wait until the last minute to slip my boots off and walk in front of everyone showing off my 8 year old socks that my loving grandma gave me.
It’s Monday morning, so of course the line is filled with the usual number of business travelers headed to their weekly work destinations, dressed in freshly pressed suits and fancy briefcases. In the seconds before I slip my shoes off, I remember the extensive thought process that went into picking this particular pair of boots. This same selection process obviously failed in the sock category.
It’s my turn, I push my bags through the security check conveyer, quickly slip my boots off and throw them on the now moving belt. Without making eye contact I wait my turn at the x-ray machine, which is now backed up 3 – 4 people. After getting cleared, I notice a few friendly smirks, and I’m pretty sure a thumbs up from one of the security workers.
I grab my boots, and in an attempt to not further hold up the line of people behind me I take my bag and move off to the side, yes still sporting the snowmen style.
In case you needed a better view of my high style socks:
Unlike Josh, I tend to not think ahead prior to arriving at the airport. Whether it is snowmen on my socks (not to mention the eye-catching bright red color), or an awkward shirt/tank top under my coat, or a piece of metal hiding in a belt buckle or earring I didn’t know about – I somehow always manage to make a scene going through airport security.
LandingStanding recently wrote a post on the best socks to travel in and these would NOT be those.
I want to hear your funny airport security stories – share in the comments!
How about the time when we just finished climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and we didn’t have time to shower before our flight. How about when airport security in Moshi, Tanzania asked me to remove my hiking boots and all of my layers unveiling my putrid STANK.
Just to really give you an image:
That would be 7 days of hiking the tallest mountain in Africa – with no shower. That would be 7 days of wearing the same socks, same tanks and layers. Times TWO people.
It was no bright red Christmas socks, but I think it came preeetttty close.
I had a good laugh at the “thumbs up” from the security 🙂
I have done this with yellow-and-black striped bumblebee socks. I tried to pretend the odd look was because the TSA person was just jealous of my sense of style.