In a post (9/2/08) on her blog, Toads Drink Coffee, Margie told how on a recent trip the TSA agent at the airport confiscated the Swiss army knife she had in her purse. She had forgotten it was there, and though he was polite, he was firm—the knife couldn’t be allowed through. He had to dig for it, which may have suggested to him it was hidden there, but the truth is it was simply buried under all the stuff she carries. In any case, apparently even being a white haired grandmother from Minnesota was not enough to convince the authorities she would not use the wee blade in some nefarious manner.

She also told how a sweet family in Birmingham, on our last night there, kindly presented her with a new Swiss army knife. What she failed to mention, however—I’m not certain why—was that the same agent confiscated from me a 50” plasma flat screen TV.