By Scott Shephard (Photo Credit: Cheesehead.com)

Flashback

I think it was a sign from God, or Vince Lombardi (if he isn't God), that I would have a close encounter with Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the beginning of our recent trip to southern California. As I was waiting in line at the TSA checkpoint at the Sioux Falls, SD, airport, I noticed an athletic looking college student heading out on spring break holding a big cheesehead hat (see above) under his arm.

After I had cleared the checkpoint, I noticed that he had forgotten to take his hat from the scanner conveyer. Though I am not a Packers fan, I picked the giant chunk of foam cheese up and called after the student. He turned, smiled, took his hat and headed towards our gate.

Confession

I was being selfish. As a Vikings fan, I have a hard time looking at these strange hats, let alone touching one. But I figured a fit, athletic type might pay back my favor by pulling Deb and me from the burning wreckage of the airplane if it crashed. I would hope that he would wear his cheesehead hat while doing this to add humor to the situation.

6 Days Later

Deb and I had a great trip to California and had returned to our home in Watertown, SD, when it occurred to me that I didn't have my laptop computer, which I knew was with me when we boarded our plane in San Diego. It turns out that I had left it on the airplane in Minneapolis!

I was pessimistically filling out the 'Lost and Found' form on the Delta web site, when I got a call from a number in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

"A robocall telling me I had won yet another 'free' cruise?" I thought. But I answered.

"Hi," said a very friendly and real voice. "This is Liz and I'm a Delta ticket agent in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I'll bet you can't guess why I'm calling."

I said, "I'm hoping you found my laptop."

Liz said, "Bingo!" Or something like that - I don't remember because I was already lost in delirium. When I came back to earth, Liz said that it had been found in the seat pocket on the the flight that had landed in Minneapolis and then continued on to Green Bay. She also said that I was lucky because when they opened up the computer, my name showed and she was able to call me by looking up my Delta information. Praise God! (Or Vince Lombardi)

A Happy Ending

This was Friday and so my laptop spent a restful weekend in Green Bay before starting its road trip home to Watertown. It visited towns with names like Oak Creek,  Davenport, Des Moines, Omaha, Sioux Falls and Brookings, before arriving at my door late yesterday.

It was cold when I found it this morning, sleeping outside our garage door. I brought it in and after I let it warm up a bit, it came to life, ready to do some work

I am an even more satisfied Delta customer after this recent experience. More than that, I am a Delta-Ticket-Agent Liz fan for her friendly and efficient handling of my dumb move. I guess I'd also have to say I am a bit more of a Packers fan, too.

But I'm not buying a cheesehead hat any time soon. . .