I was really tired. After a long day, we had finally landed at the Durango, CO airport for our summer vacation. My parents, knowing that my brothers and I were at that age when we were able to carry our own suitcases without constant parent supervision, let us stand directly in front of the baggage claim to collect the luggage while they hung back discussing parental things we couldn’t possibly care about.
As bag after bag slowly moved by on the conveyor belt, I began to feel more tired than before. So, to relieve the pressure on my tiny 10-year-old legs, I leaned against the wall.
*click* The baggage claim shut down.
I turned to read the words “EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN” on the big red button I had just leaned against, and the only thing going through my tiny 10-year-old mind was the dread that came with expecting either corporal or capital punishment from airport management.
I don’t even remember if I ever got in trouble or not. The only clear memories after the whole thing shut down are hiding behind my dad and the rest of our Durango trip going on without a hitch. I didn’t even learn a life lesson from the whole ordeal; I just moved on.
And now it’s devolved into my go-to story whenever I get a “What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve ever had?” question.
