The Story of the Traveling Pants
Early on a Sunday morning in Auckland, New Zealand, I watched a woman from our group make a hasty exit from the hotel. She was clearly on a mission. She returned a short time later to ask, “Where can I find a store that’s open?” I advised her that nothing but a convenience store would be open for business. “What is it you’re looking for?”

“What is it you’re looking for?”

“Pants.”

“Excuse me?”

“I need to buy some pants for my husband. While he was in the shower I packed our suitcases for the bag pull. My husband had laid his pants out on the bed, but I packed them. They’ve collected our luggage, and my husband has no pants!”

She added, “He’s ready to kill me!”

I’ve had to deal with lots of crises, but this was a new one! I began to picture men in the group with a similar physique who might have clothes packed in a carry-on bag, but she warned me, “Nobody in the group can know about this. He would be too embarrassed.”

Hmmm. The clock was ticking. Participants gathered in the lobby. Motorcoaches were standing by. We had a plane to catch.

I contacted the Manager on Duty and was waiting for his response. My mind raced to think of other Sunday-morning solutions. I brainstormed with the Concierge, “What about golf courses with pro shops? Are there shops at the airport? Any health clubs nearby?”

I spotted a man with a trench coat. “Hmmm,” I thought. “That coat just might be our last resort.”

I suppressed a smile and chose not to share that idea with the wife as she was definitely NOT in a humorous mood.

Finally, the Duty Manager appeared. The GM, who resided in the hotel, had loaned a pair of black slacks that just might fit. The grateful wife rushed to the elevator with the pants.

Minutes later they appeared. She, looking flushed and relieved. He, dashing and debonair, as always. The pants fit him perfectly.

I confess to being just a wee bit disappointed … the trench coat scene at airport security would have been amusing!