Last week I travelled to Atlanta for a large technology conference; one I have attended 14 of the last 16 years.
My last time there was in 2011, before my two year hiatus from the working world.
During the short flight last Monday my mind drifted to past trips to this conference. From the early days, back in the late 90’s, when the event was held in Orlando, Florida to the more recent years when it moved to a variety of cities south of the Mason-Dixon line: San Diego, Dallas, New Orleans and at least 3-4 times that I can recall, Atlanta.
While some light turbulence gently rocked the plane, I took a stroll down memory lane, flipping through mental scrapbooks containing random images of friends, colleagues and customers. I replayed snippets of conversations, recalling exact circumstances surrounding each one: a memorable meal, a lively late-night party, a tense business discussion, a crippling hangover.
And then my mind landed on the one conference-related memory to end all conference-related memories. I thought I’d purged it from my consciousness.
Wrong.
I was flying to Atlanta on a Sunday night, mid-April 2010. The plane was a small commuter jet, long and narrow, with a 2X2 seating configuration. The flight was delayed several times due to crazy thunderstorms, but eventually took off around 10:00 pm.
I practiced a strict “do not engage” policy at the time, meaning I avoided all communication with those seated near me. I was in luck, the man in the window seat didn’t even try to make eye contact when I got up to let him into his spot. He promptly rested his head against the window and went to sleep. This was my kind of seat mate.
It was late, and I was tired, so I closed my eyes and tried to drift to sleep as well.
It wasn’t the crazy turbulence that woke me up, rather an unsettling feeling that I was being watched. I felt eyes on me.
My head was turned towards the aisle (because I wasn’t going to face into a stranger in the window seat), so when I cracked my eyes open I made immediate eye contact with the couple across the aisle. They were staring at me and smiling.
Or more precisely, they were staring at my cleavage and smiling. And whispering to each other.
Oh, that’s not creepy at all, is it?
I reached down, pulling the zipper on my Lululemon yoga jacket all the way to the top, until it was resting just below my chin. Cleavage no more.
Then I closed my eyes again, blocking out the disturbing image of Hillbilly Couple leering at my boobs and tried to convince myself it had all been a hallucination.
My eyes remained clamped down until the wheels hit the ground, we had taxied to the gate and the seatbelt sign turned off.
At that point I launched into action. I was out of my seat, backpack strapped on, and jostling for position to get the hell away from the perverts.
I was like a ninja, somehow managing to get at least three full rows between me and them.
I made my way to baggage claim, but there was some question as to whether our bags would be coming in on belt 7 or 8. I strategically placed myself in between the two belts, where I could keep an eye on both.
Less than 5 minutes had passed before Mr. & Mrs Creep-fest came over and stood right beside me. And so began the small talk.
I don’t do small talk in the best of circumstances. When it’s involving a pair of hillbillies who were mentally feasting on my boobs while I slept 24 inches away, it’s a definite no-go.
Each of their questions was met with a one word answer. Yes. No. No. Yes. No.
They were undeterred, and started asking more open-ended questions: Are you here on business or pleasure? [I almost gagged on the delivery of the word pleasure…]
Oh look! The bags are starting to come off carousel 8! I walked over. Wifey followed me.
Her: I think your bag will probably come off #7. You should go stand by my husband over there.
Me: Um, no, I think I’m okay here. It looks like this carousel is moving now.
Her: Oh I’ll bet that’s our bags over there. See! That’s his bowling ball bag right there. Your bag will be coming off that belt soon.
Me: Maybe you’re right […starting to move towards belt 7]
Her: You know what would be fun?
Me: [silence]
Her: You go over and tell my husband that his wife told him he should be a gentleman and pick up your bag for you.
Me: Oh, that’s very kind but I’m very self-sufficient. I travel all the time. I know how to take care of myself.
To which she responded…
Tonight, little lady, how ’bout you let us take care of you. We’ll take care of you real good.
I felt the bile coming up at the back of my throat, and wondered if throwing up all over her shoes would be a clear enough response to her offer.
But then divine intervention. The universe took pity on me.
My bag shot out of the mouth of carousel 7, immediately to my left. With super-human strength I lifted that overstuffed suitcase (branded with the bright orange “HEAVY” tag) with one hand.
Inside of 3 seconds I was beyond the sliding glass doors and at the taxi stand.
I don’t think I exhaled until the cab door was closed shut and we had pulled away from the terminal building.
My colleagues found this story highly amusing. Harmless fun, some said.
Uh, clearly you had to be there.
This couple lived 90 minutes outside of Atlanta. [What exists 90 minutes outside of Atlanta? Surely nothing resembling civilization.]
The wife hadn’t had a hair cut in…oh, ever.

Source: memebase.cheezburger.com
The husband was a bowler (she kept advertising him as a big-time bowling champion, like this would be a big selling feature for me).
Apparently he was also a hunter. Which I translated as meaning they would have all manner of guns at home.

source: crasstalk.com
Let’s take a leap here and assume that I might be up for this type of party under the right circumstance. Nothing, and I mean nothing, being pitched to me that night constituted “the right circumstance”.
There is no way this particular scene would have ended well.
I envisioned myself gutted, entrails hanging out, with my head stuffed into their beer fridge.
Or in his bowling bag.
Just say no to threesomes with hillbillies from rural Georgia, friends.
…and keep moving!
xoxo nancy
oh my! that is definitely a memory to block out! Freakin’ crazy!
Seriously.
I spent the next 4 days of the conference, retelling the story and then asking, emphatically, “What about me says, “Please approach me with an offer for a threesome!”???
maybe you should spin it and be flattered? lol! Or that they have some balls, no pun intended, to approach someone with that nonsense. More likely they had nothing to lose. creepy!
Beyond creepy. My heart was beating out of my chest until the cab had pulled away from the airport.
What gets into some people? I mean, really? Besides the obvious WTF here. Geez. Not all people who live 90 minutes outside of Atlanta are like that. I know several people in that category.
In my haze of walking exhaustion, I think I lost your email reply. It sounds like you kicked butt at that conference. No matter how trying it was, you handled everything well. Even when you felt the old you burbling up, you responded differently than the old you would’ve. I’m glad all your old colleagues got to see how great you look.
I’m sure there are lovely, lovely people in rural Georgia. Sadly, this creepy pair coloured my perception. And scarred me for life.
I don’t know about butt-kicking, but I came, I did what I needed to, and I got the hell out of Dodge, unscathed. (Despite brewing drama.)
Hearing that I looked happy, relaxed and better – that was the icing on the cake. 😉
But isn’t one of the joys of traveling experiencing how other people live? 😉
I almost choked on my coffee reading this one!
My comment disappeared. That’s weird. Maybe the bowler eliminated me…
Sorry about that Carrie. I had a glitch in WP and the post published twice. Two of you had commented on that one, but there were more comments on this one, so I decided to cut my losses and delete the one with less activity. I tried to see if I could copy comments over, but couldn’t figure that out. 😦
Haha, no worries. Just glad to know I’m not crazy. Well, I suppose that’s still up for grabs…
If it’s not too much to ask, any chance you could add your awesome comment here to this post? 🙂
I don’t even remember what it was anymore. I think my barre workout reset my memory.
Ha! Fair enough! 🙂
Sorry, I know it was a disturbing experience for you but I couldn’t help but laugh reading this. If I was in your situation, I would’ve had so much fun, with replies like: “Oh yes, I would love to have some fun. But can I have your address? Because I’m here in Atlanta to treat my genital herpes. I will come around straight after I get some cream for it. I tell ya, these herpes of mine are just getting worse by the day! Hey, don’t tun away, you haven’t given me your address yet!!! Here, you can use my pen – I keep it in my underwear because I love this pen. Hey, where you going? Let’s talk some more!!! Wanna have a bite of my chocolate bar?” 🙂
Oh God JD, this is PERFECT! Now I’m sad I didn’t handle it the JD way!
I can honestly say this was the one time in my life I was at a complete loss for words.
Bahahaha I love that respinse JD. Must remember this approach if this ever happens to me! Hehe
Best. Response. Ever. #Fail on me for not thinking of it!
I’m making a mental note to remember that response. I hope I never need it, but better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
I’m cringing…!
Now multiply that by 10 and you’ll have a better sense if what I was feeling.
My jaw dropped.
You are the second blogger who has talked about being randomly solicited for threesomes! I’m so horrified! So blown away! So…. hurt that this has never happened to me…
Ha. Threesomes is what I’m posting about today too! Prepare to be unaroused ladies…
I wait with baited breath.
It’s up. I await your verdict…
I shall head over shortly!
Hahaha! Prepare to be unaroused, love it. I’ll be sure to stop by when I’m not on a work computer!
Yup, that’s probably for the best ha!
GAH! I keep forgetting that. Powering up personal laptop now.
Show some more cleave, and this could happen to you too.
And in other news, just like with Carrie, my original comment disappeared? I’m not sure what’s going on as I made it on my phone through the WP app. But this post didn’t even show up in the reader on my laptop??
Not really your concern Nancy and I’m not even sure why I’m still typing… Sorry.
Ugh, sorry Sean. See my comment to Carrie. I tried to combine two posts into one, which is clearly impossible, so I deleted one and lost a few comments. 😦
Ah OK. At least that makes sense though and WP just doesn’t hate me.
No, apparently it’s only me it hates.
hahahaha eeeeeeek!
I didn’t think this sort of thing happened in real life!!
well done for not throwing up on her shoes…
I have no idea what I would do in that situation…probably something unladylike
😀
Tell me, tell me, tell me!!!
Definitely the material for recurring nightmares!
However, this just supports one of my favourite adages that today’s disaster is tomorrow’s really good story. In this case – a GREAT story! Creepy is an understatement 🙂
Ha! I had forgotten how entertaining other people found this story 3 years ago.
I’m glad to have found a new audience to gross out with it!
I can’t believe this really happens. How entirely disturbing…I mean seriously disturbing and distressing! I’ll bet you couldn’t wait to have a hot shower!
Debra, I felt like I needed one after rewriting it. 🙂
That’s terrifying! I think I would’ve high-tailed it out of there, too. Personally, my “stranger interaction policy” forbids entering a stranger’s house or car alone. If I’m stranded somewhere or need to use a phone and absolutely HAVE to enter a stranger’s house, I’m not about to eat or drink anything while I’m there. I’ve read too much about guys like Jeffrey Dahmer. Better paranoid than dead, I say.
Definitely a smart stranger interaction policy you have there Katy. Can’t imagine entering a stranger’s house or car!
I know, right? Some people will just jump right into a random person’s car like it’s no big deal. I just can’t imagine doing that except in an extreme emergency.
Good call Katy!
STRANGER DANGER! It’s just a good thing you practiced that policy before you became a bowling ball bag to be toted along to big time bowling events.
No kidding! The possibilities were endless, and all of them horrific.
For real– But at least now you can cross off “Getting picked up by creepy hillbilly old couple” off your bucket list. How many people can do that?
True dat!
The only thing creepier than your story was the picture of that guy. Thanks, pal, for that mental picture that will stay with me for the rest of the day.
Ha! Sorry about that. How could I resist though? 🙂
Bahahahaha that is too funny. One has to assume that every now and then this works for them and that thought is just plain weird!
I just threw up a bit in my mouth. So disturbing!
Oh. Dear. God.
Please tell me they were very drunk on airplane mini bottles. Please…
Otherwise, I’m out of excuses and just have to be totally and thoroughly disgusted.
Sorry PNinj…can’t blame this on booze. 😦
“I envisioned myself gutted, entrails hanging out, with my head stuffed into their beer fridge.”
I was laughing throughout this whole story….but that line up there got me good! LOLOL.
ERMAHGERD. Nancy! That is SO funnynotfunny. How gross, and awful, and awkward. I’m so glad you shared this with me. Day. Made.
The worst was when I retold the story to my colleagues the following day, and none of them seemed surprised that I was approached like that. Um… really? Thanks. Insult to injury.
🙂
have a great weekend, Beth!
and ummm how did I ever miss this post? HOW? I will be traveling in a turtleneck and snowsuit from now on.
Ew.
Ew, indeed, my friend. Ew, indeed.
Creeeeeeepppppy! Sounds like something from a Rob Zombie film. Regarding cleavage – I’m sorry but my eyes gravitate there. I will go to extremes to avoid making eye contact with them. I remember going on a job interview and the manager who interviewed me had a plunging neckline that made it nearly impossible for me to focus. I was staring at the ceiling most of the time, which made me look very weird. I didn’t get the job and I blame boobs for it.
I blame my boobs for much of my career success. 🙂
lol They are all powerful, yet enigmatic.
As a former boss used to say back in the early 2000’s, when I was still in field sales, “Oh, I see you wore your closing shirt today, Nanc. Go get that order!” 🙂
OMG. Boobs have been weaponized!
Those boobs paid for my hot tub. 🙂 I left that organization to join the software behemoth in June 2001, but before leaving closed a deal for which I didn’t receive the commission cheque until about 2 months after having left. When $13k arrived in my mailbox, long after I’d stopped working there, it was found money. So we decided to just spend it on something frivolous. (This was pre swimming pool and landscaping.) My husband used to refer to that hot tub as “the toy that nancy’s boobs bought”. 🙂
It’s like your boobs had the power of the Jedi. We need a Jedi name for you. If I depended on generating money from my cookies, I’d probably end up with a toddler’s plastic wading pool. 🙂
I just snorted more coffee out of my nose!
See? Now if I were in that famous scene in When Harry met Sally, instead of the faked big O, she would have snorted coffee out of her nose. That’s my special skill. 🙂
Own it, my friend. Own it!
Think about all of the cool Sanka commercials I could write.