That’s right. The TSA confiscated one of my Christmas presents on Christmas Day.
I packed some Christmas presents and carried the rest in a small carry-on bag. It never once occurred to me that the silly “Fashion Magic Eight Ball” that I’d purchased at Bloomingdales would not be allowed through.
As my bags went through the scanner, the person monitoring the scanner called another agent over. I collected my stuff and followed her to a table. She asked if I had anything sharp in there, and I said no. She opened the bag, looked in, and looked back at me. “You aren’t going to be happy with me,” she said as she pulled the fashion magic eight ball out of the bag. “You can’t carry this on the plane — it has liquid in it.” I was shocked.
The TSA security officer was sympathetic, but she couldn’t let me carry it on. She offered that I could go back to the counter and pack it in my bag, or mail it to myself, but I was short on time if I wanted to actually board the flight. “Bummer” I replied as I shook my head and watched her take the eight ball over to where ever they keep confiscated goods at National Airport.
As I boarded the plane, I called my sister-in-law and told her the TSA had confiscated her Christmas present. She laughed hard. I think it is very possible that the story of what happened to her gift may end up being better than the gift, but only because it was such a little, silly gift in the first place.
In truth, the gift was little more than an inexpensive, silly gag gift. Some of the proceeds from the purchase went to a charity, and I thought it would be fun. Technically, my brother long ago told me not to buy him and his wife presents because I already buy presents for all three of their kids, but I always feel weird not giving them anything, so I usually come up with small, silly things for the adults.
So, here’s the bottom line: Do not take snow globes or magic eight balls, or anything else that has some sort of liquid inside, on the plane. It may not occur to you, as it didn’t occur to me, that the gift would be confiscated. Trust me when I tell you, they’ll take it. Just because it is a Christmas gift and you are flying on Christmas doesn’t mean you’ll get any sort of exception.
I sure didn’t.
