With all the gun scares that go on nowadays people are rather paranoid it seems. All it takes is one idiot panicking to send everyone into a panicked frenzy. I'm just glad everything's okay.

One of these days, though, we'll look back at this and laugh. (I hope)

I was laughing by the time I got home.

I managed to NOT laugh in front of the police and fedreal marshals, though. They might have understood it was just nerves, but why take the chance?

Also, about a year and a half ago there WAS a shooting at another nearby mall. (Yes, during the Christmas shopping season.) I guess I can't really blame people for being a little paranoid.

I see.

Oh, side note:

The article says I left my umbrella with the police. That's not quite true. I tried to give it to one of them, but he couldn't keep it. I guess they couldn't take it because it wasn't going to be evidence of a crime or anything, and it was still personal property.

Finally, I stuck it into one of the trash cans out front and left it there. One of them must have pulled it back out to show people what the "gun" was.