Just Call me MacGyver

Back-story:

Before a recent business trip, I was forced to pack in a rushed manner without time to double check to make sure that I had everything I would need.

During the packing process, I had noticed that my dark socks were not in their usual place (likely due to my older son pilfering my socks rather than laundering his own), and had made a mental note to find (and pack) a few pair before I closed the suitcase.

Did I mention that I had packed in a hurry?

Flash forward through 30+ hours of air travel, a long ride to the hotel over bad roads in monsoon rains, a few hours of sleep at the hotel and an early wake-up call to be out for a morning meeting with a high ranking military officer.

As I groggily laid out my dark blue suit, crisp white shirt, powerful (but understated) tie and well shined black shoes, I noticed for the first time the absence of appropriate socks.

I had several pairs of khaki colored socks for casual wear, but I don't need to explain that sitting down at a meeting across from one of the most powerful men in the country with khaki colored socks peeking out from under my dark blue suit pants, was not an option.  I might as well wear white tube socks - or no socks, for that matter! - as the effect would have been the same.

I had less than ten minutes before the driver was scheduled to collect me from the hotel for my meeting, so I did what anyone would do:  I called the concierge to see if there was a shop in the hotel or nearby where I could procure a pair of dark blue or black socks.

The concierge, hearing the note of panic in my voice, asked me to wait a moment while he checked in the hotel shop that carried magazines, sundries and gifts.

In a moment he was back on the line telling me that, regretfully, the only pair of socks in the shop were a pair of blue Nike sports socks... size: Children's Medium.

I told him to send them up.

Now, to appreciate this, you need to first see the end result.  Pretty good, no?

And now, a peek behind the curtain to see the extent of my MacGyver hack (I cut the toe stitching to allow the part of my foot that wouldn't fit into the sock to go on through):

These pictures were taken in the little room behind the Concierge Desk in the hotel lobby when I returned from my meeting.  He couldn't believe that I'd managed to make use of the socks!

I'm available to speak to scout troops, conventions and business seminars.