[Glenn E. Meyer]

The Cabela's gun counter is a fun watch. My best was when a guy comes in with his female companion to buy a pump shotgun.

Here's how it goes (dude, clerk):

I want a pump shotgun as if I rack it the sound will scare away the crook.

Oh, yes.

And I want some blanks for the gun, because if the rack noise doesn't scare them away - then the blanks will!

Well, you should also get some rubber 00 to shoot at them.

--- At this point, I have to intervene (mistake) and say - Gun stuff, tactics stuff, stopping power stuff, legal stuff - blah, blah.

Dude looks like he wants to kill me. Clerk also. Lesson - let fools be their own advisor. However, clerky boy should have given better advice.

Another time a TX Ranger came up to the counter, badge and 45 on his belt. Why the customers looked like they had seen Marilyn Monroe appear at her best. They flocked around him like a superstar. One old coot actually bent over and almost stuck his nose in the Ranger's gun to scope it out. Hilarious.

As far as flagship stores - I like LLBean in Maine and Whole Foods in Austin. Different genre but fun.