A crazy way to end the Netherlands tour.
Lost luggage from Atlanta to Milwaukee.
I could only assume that’s what it was as I waited through two shifts at baggage claim. My bicycle arrived; secure in a big cardboard box. There were normally stares – like a crazy lady had shipped her piano overseas and was dragging it through the airport.
As the empty baggage claim turnstyle clunked and whirred along a raggedy man and I stood; mesmerized and waiting.
He was dressed in black. A flare of pins on his worn leather jacket. A guitar slung over his shoulder.
“Looks like they got to ours last,” I said striking up conversation about our luggage woes.
He glanced at me through his sunglasses. “I just landed,” he said with somewhat of a British accent.
We bantered, dryly, about travel and Milwaukee.
Pretty soon his luggage arrived. He won the bet. I said I was documenting my journey and could I get his name. “Just call me Elvis.”
I gave a polite laugh…
Then he started walking towards a chauffeur-looking guy holding a that read ‘Costello.’
Things started adding up: guitar, flare, British accent.
My journey to the Netherlands ended waiting at baggage claim with none other rocker than Elvis Costello.
