My Move to Hawaii, by Jake, Part I

My flight left at 6am yesterday morning, which meant Kara and I had to get out of bed at 3:30am! ATA allowed three checked bags, so I brought a suitcase and two U-Haul boxes packed with clothes, electronics, tennis rackets, and other random items. I also had a small suitcase for a carry-on, and my laptop as my “personal item.” So, five bags for me to haul around through the airport.

Getting through security was a breeze, took off my shoes, took off my coat, emptied my pockets, took the laptop out of the bag, shoved it all through the x-ray machine. On the other side, I grabbed all my stuff and got dressed again. I walked away thinking about breakfast, and two or so minutes later I hear on the intercom “Jake and Kara murgle blarg jib. Jake and Kara jiggle blab.” What? And how did they know Kara’s name?? I went to a courtesy phone, but the office wasn’t open yet. So, I went back to the security station and told them that I heard my name on the intercom. I told them my name, and they said “Go over there.” As I approached ‘over there’ I saw two people rummaging through my carry-on suitcase (oh, did I not have that with me?)

Apparently what happened (I pieced this together from the info I got from the security people, which were VERY nice by the way) was I left my suitcase on the table outside the x-ray machine. So, when I shoved everything through the machine, the suitcase wasn’t included. A few moments later, someone noticed an unattended suitcase just sitting there, so they ran it through the x-ray machine, AND THE ALARM WENT OFF! Now, I’m guessing here, but I bet things got a little tense for the security station. They opened up the suitcase (gingerly I assume) and right on top was my checkbook. This was how they knew our names...

So, I’m standing there while they remove every item from my loaded up suitcase. She mentions that they would have had to do this even if I hadn’t forgot it, because the alarm was set off. I packed my Xbox 360 in the carry-on, so there were TONS of electronic parts and cords and whatnot to remove and swipe down (to check for explosive residue). As they were pulling out items, I said “I don’t think I packed anything embarrassing, so I think we’ll be ok.” A minute or two later, the lady going through my stuff said “Are you moving, or are you just traveling with your games?” “I’m moving.” “Oh, where to?” “Maui.” “OH!” hehe

Check back tomorrow for more!