I am a bit of a hoarder. I like things
that are useful. I like to be prepared. So, when I go to fancy hotels and
they have free toiletries, I take some.
My favorite are sewing kits. They are incredibly
useful. You never know when you might
need to sew on a button, fix a hole, darn some socks. There is a tiny box with
a couple buttons, a variety of thread pre strung onto needles. When I find one,
I chuck into my baggage, to be ready for a fashion disaster. In my carryon there
are multiple sewing kits rattling around at any one time.
Flying in the world has become more and more of
an ordeal. Nowhere more so than Jordan. Because of its proximity to people who
don’t like us, Jordanian flights to the US must undergo extra scrutiny.
For a short time, laptops and Ipads were banned carry-on items. Then,
under threat of losing all flights to the US, they had to promise to be extra
careful with flights headed directly there.
So, they did.
Now, after you’ve had your bag scanned at the
entrance to the airport, and after you have your bag scanned to get through
normal airport security, one must line up and have all your bags hand searched
by real-live people. Men are searched by men. Women are searched by
women. It easily adds an hour to the boarding process. They’ve walled off one
section of the airport just for these American flights and their searches.
I’ve flown to the U.S. three times now recently.
I go extra early. I stand in line.
I get my belongings rifled through. Each time, they open my bag, pocket by
pocket. And each time they pull out my sewing kits and give me a finger wag and
throw them in the trash.
This latest time, I laughed and said, “For
sewing” mimicking sewing on a button. They just shook their head. One of
the guys took his finger and poked it into his neck.
“Really?!” He smiled and shrugged, all the
while overlooking the following…
my eyeglass repair kit
a rubber-tipped dental pick
a mirror, a razor
a charging block
a cord
nail clippers
wire rim glasses
keys
I believe I would have a better chance of
beating one to death with my Ipad than killing someone with a needle to the
neck. Breaking off a piece of glass and shimming in betweens someone’s ribs.
But took the needles they did.
You may be shivved, stabbed, bludgeoned or
strangled, but be rest assured, America, your necks will not suffer the tiny
pricks of terrorists. Thanks Al Qaeda!
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