Awareness on vacation
(A forward from my posting on The High Road.)
A story on keeping alert.
I took the family down to Florida for a vacation before the kids got back to school.
Left central Indiana on a Friday afternoon trying to get as far as possible
the first day, can't really drive all night with kids. We were in southern Tennessee
when we pulled off an exit to stop for the night about 10:30 pm.
I and my wife are both CCW lifetime holders in Indiana.
Went to a hotel to check for a room, area looked alright but there was a bunch
of loud 20 somethings outside that had been drinking. Decided not the best place for the family.
Jumped back in the truck and began to pull out of the lot, crappy green Toyota of some sort pulls next to my door.
My window is 1/2 down... hand slides down to my Smith 649 in my door. Wifes down to her SP101 in her door.
Bear in mind this is 10:30 at night, skinny dude with the mullet asks me for money for gas.
Said he just left the children's hospital and is trying to make it home.
Now, the guy has a woman in the front seat and 2 kids in the back. I help people when I can
but this was red flag for me. Said sorry nicely and left the lot,
got on the highway, put my foot in it for greener pastures down the road.
Along we go for another 10 or so miles with my foot in it the whole time, girls have to use the restroom so
the next exit we get off to go to the travel plaza. The wife and I have been discussing the event with
the mullet guy, I've heard the no gas/childrens hospital scam before, he brought the kids along to throw
people off that he was not a threat, scumbag. Basically spotting travelers knowing that they have cash
and looking for a mark, open you wallet to give him a $5 and he sticks a gun or knife in your face and your out.
Anyhow, I was in the gas all the way to the exit, remember about 10 miles,
(kids have to go hurry dad) Get out of the truck 649 goes in front pocket.
Walk the Wife and 2 girls to the door of the plaza to do their business. Go back to the truck and get the
boys out and take them up. I wait outside by the truck. Scanning the parking lot guess what I see......
crappy green Toyota setting behind the pumps.
Guy followed me down the Interstate... now I had been talking about this guy with the wife for the
last 10 minutes and like a bad penny up he pops. I was beside myself, guy pulls up and proceeds to park
a spot down from my truck and eye me up. He gets out and I've had enough, shirt gets tucked behind my grip.
He gets the "Hey buddy not a great idea look" Woman gives him a shout.
Scumbags eyes get wide and he's in the car and out of the lot in a flash.
I was not trying to escalate the situation but none verbally
tell the guy keep clear and stay away from me and my family so don't flame me.
Jump back in the truck and put a bunch of miles behind us, head into Georgia late for the night. But now all is well with a great vacation to Florida.
(A forward from my posting on The High Road.)
A story on keeping alert.
I took the family down to Florida for a vacation before the kids got back to school.
Left central Indiana on a Friday afternoon trying to get as far as possible
the first day, can't really drive all night with kids. We were in southern Tennessee
when we pulled off an exit to stop for the night about 10:30 pm.
I and my wife are both CCW lifetime holders in Indiana.
Went to a hotel to check for a room, area looked alright but there was a bunch
of loud 20 somethings outside that had been drinking. Decided not the best place for the family.
Jumped back in the truck and began to pull out of the lot, crappy green Toyota of some sort pulls next to my door.
My window is 1/2 down... hand slides down to my Smith 649 in my door. Wifes down to her SP101 in her door.
Bear in mind this is 10:30 at night, skinny dude with the mullet asks me for money for gas.
Said he just left the children's hospital and is trying to make it home.
Now, the guy has a woman in the front seat and 2 kids in the back. I help people when I can
but this was red flag for me. Said sorry nicely and left the lot,
got on the highway, put my foot in it for greener pastures down the road.
Along we go for another 10 or so miles with my foot in it the whole time, girls have to use the restroom so
the next exit we get off to go to the travel plaza. The wife and I have been discussing the event with
the mullet guy, I've heard the no gas/childrens hospital scam before, he brought the kids along to throw
people off that he was not a threat, scumbag. Basically spotting travelers knowing that they have cash
and looking for a mark, open you wallet to give him a $5 and he sticks a gun or knife in your face and your out.
Anyhow, I was in the gas all the way to the exit, remember about 10 miles,
(kids have to go hurry dad) Get out of the truck 649 goes in front pocket.
Walk the Wife and 2 girls to the door of the plaza to do their business. Go back to the truck and get the
boys out and take them up. I wait outside by the truck. Scanning the parking lot guess what I see......
crappy green Toyota setting behind the pumps.
Guy followed me down the Interstate... now I had been talking about this guy with the wife for the
last 10 minutes and like a bad penny up he pops. I was beside myself, guy pulls up and proceeds to park
a spot down from my truck and eye me up. He gets out and I've had enough, shirt gets tucked behind my grip.
He gets the "Hey buddy not a great idea look" Woman gives him a shout.
Scumbags eyes get wide and he's in the car and out of the lot in a flash.
I was not trying to escalate the situation but none verbally
tell the guy keep clear and stay away from me and my family so don't flame me.
Jump back in the truck and put a bunch of miles behind us, head into Georgia late for the night. But now all is well with a great vacation to Florida.
