So, we were in the security line at O’Hare and I was counting off the bags we’re bringing through and I suddenly thought, Oh crap.
Sophia was clutching a plastic bag, inside of which were the two presents she got at the Adler-Ostendorf family gift exchange: a plastic box of makeup and a tea set complete with checkered table cloth, creamer and sugar bowl, and toy cutlery. Including little toy knives that couldn’t cut butter, but they’re knives nonetheless.
“We have to check the tea set!” I said.
“Oh shit, you’re right,” Darin said.
My rolling computer case, the big one I take on vacations, can double as an overnight bag (for those overnight business trips, natch). We pulled the sub-computer bag (the one actually holding the computer) out and hurriedly shoved Sophia’s bag in. Then Darin left the line and went back to the skycaps to check the bag.
Sophia was very upset, as you can imagine — she has barely let that tea set out of her hands since she got it, and every single member of her extended family was treated to at least one tea party during our Thanksgiving. We tried to explain to her that if we didn’t check the tea set, what could possibly happen is that they take all the toy knives out of it and throw them away, or even worse they take the tea set away permanently. She was not convinced. All she knew was that she wasn’t having a tea party on the plane and we promised she could have a tea party on the plane.
But you know: better safe than sorry.
During the descent into SFO I heard a clicking noise behind me, and I glanced back to see what it was. Another passenger was calmly knitting.
With metal needles.
Huh. Interesting.
“Is the whole ‘no sharp objects’ thing over with?” I asked Darin.
“She would have lost her mind if anything had happened to the tea set,” he said.
You made the correct choice, as the TSA allmost certainly would have permanently confiscated the knives. For some reason the TSA has elected to exempt knitting needles. Maybe they had too many complaints from old ladies.
fyi Daryl, most of the knitters I know are well under age 40. Time to update the stereotype files.
anyway, pens and pencils could be just as lethal as knitting needles (or knives, in some cases), and they’ve never forbade those. That is, aside from obvious weaponry and explosives, what is allowed or not seems to be decided a lot more by emotional reasoning than logic.
Heather, happy to be able to knit on the plane
Apparently the TSA actually is about to change their rules regarding sharp objects. Have a look here: http://tinyurl.com/al72d (Washington Post requires registration but you can get a login from bugmenot.com to save you the trouble)
Knitting needles have always been ok, although I’ve known people that have had issues because someone at security didn’t know the rule. I’ve known knitters to bring a copy of the regulation that addresses knitting needles. But, I get your point–you can do some serious damage with one of those.
yeah (re: pens are more dangerous than knitting needles)! didn’t you see “Red Eye”? (you didn’t? lucky you.)