This is about 9/11 but not really

So, it's been 8 years since Sept. 11th and it's true what they say. You always remember where you were when something like that happens. My mom used to say that she can remember the assassination of JFK like it was yesterday and I never really understood that concept until I was alive during a similar national tragedy. I can't remember yesterday but damn do I remember that morning 8 years ago. I can even remember the weather. I remember every terrible minute. Watching those buildings fall over and over again. I try not to dwell on terrible things in my past but I think it would be irresponsible not to remember it. Remembering how I felt. How if that was MY city I couldn't imagine the sorrow and rage I would feel. Just taking a few minutes to remember honors those who risked everything and some, their lives, to help strangers. People that ran into a burning collapsing building without hesitation because it was what they were trained to do. Remembering how much pride we all felt and how people were a tad bit nicer to each other. Not dwelling on the sadness but remembering how we all came together. That is something that we shouldn't forget no matter what.

Ok, enough of the serious stuff. Speaking of the heightened airport security that arose from Sept. 11th. I had an interesting little mash up with TSA last week when Mike and I were leaving to go to Chicago for a couple days. I have an awesome necklace that is a small pink version of brass knuckles with a banner that says "bitches get stitches" someday I'm sure it will get me into a fight with a bitch that I know I will not win but that's not the point of this bloggie. So, right at the last minute I threw it into my purse and left for the airport. We get there, pay for pox to fly with us (which is $125 each way for her to be jammed under the seat in front of us in case you were wondering) and headed to security. We get thru security and the lady asks whose stuff the studded belt belongs to. I raise my hand and think that there is some new law and I shouldn't have worn that belt.

The lady brings me over and tells me that I have brass knuckles in my purse and that it's a felony. I looked at her with confusion and then it dawns on me that she means my necklace. So, I start to explain that it's a necklace while she digs thru my purse to find it. By this time Mike has come over to see what the hub bub is about. She pulls out my necklace and puts her fingers in as much as she can which is like just past her fingernails and tells me that this could be used as a weapon and I can't take it on the plane. Now, because Mike is the guy he is and he has NEVER responded well to authority in all the years I have known him, he starts to tell her that if in fact I used the necklace as brass knuckles and punched someone I would break my hand. And that he has a pen in his pocket that he could kill someone with, or that he could take the knife they give you with the meal and stab someone with it, or that I could do more damage with my bare fist than with the necklace. Or that for christ sakes we have a dog with us that could do more damage than anything (but of course we just paid $250 for her so she somehow is allowed) So, after seeing the look on her face, and knowing that this was a discussion that could very easily land us both in prison, I start to look for what can be done so we can move on and board our plane. She tells me I have 3 options. I can basically throw it away, BUY a bag and then pay another $25 fee to check it (yes, that was actually a suggestion) or mail it to myself. I chose the not completely idiotic mail option after which she tells me that it is back outside of security but the line isn't that long so I should be fine. And to take a pen cause there probably isn't one out there.

Mike starts in on how he does in fact have a pen that once again is more of a weapon than a necklace so I grab the necklace and leave security for the front. I get to the little station and realize of COURSE it's not regular cheap mail it's special airport mail...and that means it's going to cost $11 to send something 20 minutes away from the airport. And it's going to take 5 weeks. Keep in mind that we live literally 20 minutes away from the airport. So I begrudgingly put down my debit info and put it in the little plastic bag and drop it in the thing realizing that this could very well be the last I ever see of my necklace. I go thru security again...pick up my stuff and head to our gate. On the way we play a little game of seeing how many other things we see off hand that would be a better weapon than a fake brass knuckle necklace. We saw about 20 million things. I know it is her ass if I did in fact kill someone with my necklace and I know she was just doing her job but somehow when there is money that starts to get involved it makes me instantly suspicious of the motive for things. I guess I would have just felt better if she said she had to confiscate it and that was that. I have a sneaking suspicion that soon you will be able to bring weapons onto the plane...but you'll have to pay a fee.