The Minitragedy

Published on Thursday, November 22, 2007, by Daniel Duane / Edit Post

I heard an anecdote this weekend about Hemingway, how he once produced a six-word story on a dare. It went like this: “Baby shoes for sale: never worn.” Here’s another entry in the tragic flash-fiction sweepstakes, except that it’s true:

Airport security worker, removing a bag from the x-ray machine: “Excuse me, sir, there seems to be a bottle of 1995 Cristal in your suitcase.”

ALLWine and Drinks
POST A COMMENT |10 Comments

COMMENT

  • DavidNY, I respect your taking the blame for this unfortunate incident.

    You have to realize, however, that writing a blog exposes the blogger to the world. The overly sensitive shouldn't do it. In this case schadenfreude cropped up. Just human nature.

    Maybe the airport security guys got some enjoyment from your gift.

  • I'm a frequent flier and stay on top of the requirements, but the first time I flew after they instituted the no-liquids rule (this was before they amended it to allow 3 oz containers) the X-ray techs confiscated a couple of nips of Martell Cordon Bleu that I had thrown into the bottom my bag eons ago and forgotten about. :-(

    How I came into possession of Cordon Bleu ($100-a-bottle cognac) nips...+READ

    I'm a frequent flier and stay on top of the requirements, but the first time I flew after they instituted the no-liquids rule (this was before they amended it to allow 3 oz containers) the X-ray techs confiscated a couple of nips of Martell Cordon Bleu that I had thrown into the bottom my bag eons ago and forgotten about. :-(

    How I came into possession of Cordon Bleu ($100-a-bottle cognac) nips is another story...-COLLAPSE

  • I have to say, i feel sorry for those who choose to ridicule dan rather than commiserate with him, or more to the point, i feel sorry for those that your live with in real life.

    Picture this, your father, your sister, your friend is forced to abandon something they were looking forward to enjoying-- and your response would be to taunt them? Rather, dan now gives you the perfect reply going...+READ

    I have to say, i feel sorry for those who choose to ridicule dan rather than commiserate with him, or more to the point, i feel sorry for those that your live with in real life.

    Picture this, your father, your sister, your friend is forced to abandon something they were looking forward to enjoying-- and your response would be to taunt them? Rather, dan now gives you the perfect reply going forward..."you think thats bad, i know a guy who had to dump a bottle of '95 Cristal." Maybe, just maybe, that would be a better recieved than "uh. lets see....does it fit in a litle zip-lock baggie."

    Let it be known that i was the one who gave dan the bottle-- about 15 minutes before he had to leave for his flight (and after 2 hours of him crawling around on the floor playing with my 2 rambunctious boys while i got to relax a bit more than usual). And I even knew he was travelling with little more than a backpack and leaving just enough time to run to the gate. And I travel every week, no checked bags thank you very much. I was the one who was out-to-lunch and did not think that it was a fool's errand to get the champagne back to SF.

    Maybe that could have happened to you to? Maybe? I am willing to concede thatt there may be others that live their life as though they are constantly going through an airport screener but its not always on my mind.

    Hey, its a sad and memorable anecdote. Makes a good story, not a launching pad for spraying contempt.

    Might i suggest that if you aren't enjoying the blog, you find others to read?-COLLAPSE

  • Uh, let's see . . . does it fit in that little zip-lock baggie???

    There's no problem flying with wine -- do it all the time. But you can't do it any longer in your carry-on . . .

    STOP.....THINK......PACK......

  • I also consider myself an experienced though somewhat unconventional traveler. Those of you familiar with Hunter S. Thompson and the concept of the 'kit bag' know what I mean. I have to admitt I'm having a lot of trouble making the transition to the new world order. I have lost two bottles of Maker's Mark thus far and, no, you can't volunteer to finish it off right then and there.

  • Yeah, it's true. I was completely out to lunch. Too much on my mind other than that bottle. I imagine the pain of its loss will remain with me for many years--perhaps forever, as a little pinprick of annoyance I can always return to.

  • Oh. Daniel, not trying to be nasty at all. Hell, I'd give myself that label if I made such a mistake. But given how much you seem to travel, I'm floored that you could have gotten into this pickle. Sort of a scratching-the-head moment of..."what on earth was he (not) thinking!?!"

  • Or maybe I'm just human, and capable of blowing it once in a while, especially when late for a plane due to NYC traffic and running fast and the bottle was a gift. But why the kick-him-when-he's-down nastiness here, Alder? I lost a spectacular bottle of Champagne, and it kills me. I even happen to be deep in the throes of my life's first great love affair with Champagne. I'm a seasoned business...+READ

    Or maybe I'm just human, and capable of blowing it once in a while, especially when late for a plane due to NYC traffic and running fast and the bottle was a gift. But why the kick-him-when-he's-down nastiness here, Alder? I lost a spectacular bottle of Champagne, and it kills me. I even happen to be deep in the throes of my life's first great love affair with Champagne. I'm a seasoned business traveler, too; I had even arranged all my stupid mini-sized toileteries in a plastic bag, the way you're supposed to. But I blew it on the way to JFK. Or am I mis-reading your tone? I've always admired your wine blog, www.vinography.com, and we have friends in common who speak very highly of you. In fact, I've looked forward to meeting you around the neighborhood one of these days.-COLLAPSE

  • I sincerely hope that wasn't YOUR suitcase, because if it was, you've got some explaining to do about why you shouldn't win the "Dumbest Wine Lover of The Year" award.

  • I just can't fly anymore... when I drive, it may take a little longer, but I get to pack along anything I want to eat and drink, I'm in charge of the in-flight entertainment, and I know darn well there won't be some little brat kicking the back of my seat the entire way there.

    There is one appropriate thing to do if they attempt to confiscate a treasure like that: Down all of it on the spot....+READ

    I just can't fly anymore... when I drive, it may take a little longer, but I get to pack along anything I want to eat and drink, I'm in charge of the in-flight entertainment, and I know darn well there won't be some little brat kicking the back of my seat the entire way there.

    There is one appropriate thing to do if they attempt to confiscate a treasure like that: Down all of it on the spot. Share with other people in line if you have to.-COLLAPSE