(When I am 12, I go on an overseas trip with my mum and buy a beautiful umbrella there, shaped like a leaf. Since it doesn’t fit into our luggage, we have to check it separate as ‘bulky luggage’ at the airport. But when we get to our home airport at around midnight, the umbrella doesn’t show up at the baggage claim, no matter how long we wait. We ask a random airport worker for help and get sent to the special claims desk.)

Lady At Desk: “You’re missing a piece of luggage? I’m sorry, but it might have been lost in our collections area for luggage… or it might not have made it off the plane. This late at night, there’s not enough workers to properly search for it.”

(I was in love with that umbrella, so hearing that it might be completely lost almost made me cry.)

Lady At Desk: “If you give me a description of the lost piece, I’ll make sure to inform everyone working tomorrow to look for it, and with your flight number we’ll check the plane as well! We can have it delivered to any address you give us.”

Mum: “It’s a bright green umbrella, with the brown handle shaped like a tree trunk, and if you open it up it has the shape of a leaf.”

Lady At Desk: “Well, we certainly won’t have any trouble finding THAT!” *laughing*

(We go home without my umbrella and I am certain I’ll never hear from the airport service again. However, the next day around noon, the doorbell rings and a flight attendant shows up — with my umbrella!)

Flight Attendant: “The luggage workers found this tucked behind a set of golf-bags this morning. When I heard your address was on my route home, I offered to deliver it in person!”

(Ten years later, I still have that umbrella.)

(I’m traveling with my family and my in-laws, going through airport security. My father-in-law is pulled aside for wanding. He doesn’t look much like a terrorist to me, but maybe I don’t think like they do. More likely, it’s his hip replacements that just sets off the alarm each time. The agent wanding him is a congenial older man.)

Agent: “Have you been through this before?”

Father-In-Law: “Many times.”

Agent: *holding up handheld scanner and smiling* “Then you know that this is the part where I beat you with this.”

Father-In-Law: *nervously* “No, that part is new.”

(My aunt tells me she was asked to open her carry-on at security. After removing scissors the agent sticks his hand inside a compartment, peers in, then promptly removes his hand, exclaiming ‘Oh’ and going wide-eyed. He ends the search abruptly, tells my aunt she’s okay, whispers to another agent, and leaves, while holding his hand up.)

Me: “What did you have in there he didn’t want to touch? Can’t be like leaked lotion.”

Aunt: “I was confused at first, but then I checked that compartment. I had a sonic screwdriver there… I’m guessing he thought it was… umm, an adult thing… You know.”

(My husband’s plane is delayed due to bad weather. When the connecting flight FINALLY gets in, over five hours late, most of the already irate passengers are greeted with the news that in the rush to get the plane in the air most of the baggage was not loaded. They are all told that the plane with their luggage will be flown in the next day and carriers will be hired to deliver them to their homes or hotels. The next afternoon a middle-aged man brings my husband’s suitcases to our home. I run around to find enough cash to give him a tip.)

Me: “Thank you so much for bringing our luggage. I am so sorry, I don’t have a lot of cash on me. I hope $15 will be enough.”

(At this point, this grown man’s eyes started tearing up.)

Me: *very concerned* “Oh, my. Are… are you all right? What’s wrong, sir?”

Carrier: “Yours are the first kind words I have gotten all day. Everyone has been so mean to me and yelling at me about their luggage not being on the plane.”

Me: “Why in the world would anyone be mad at you? It’s certainly not YOUR fault the airline messed up!”

Carrier: “You wouldn’t know that by the way people have treated me. They have yelled at me, cussed at me, threatened me…”

Me: *really not knowing what to say at that point* “I hope you have a better day from this point on.”

Carrier: “Lady, my day just got better by meeting you.”

(He turned around and left. I only hope his day did improve. Poor guy.)

(My friend is arriving from the USA to visit me shortly after my new baby is born. She walks up to the passport inspection desk and hands her passport to the border guard.)

Border Guard: “What is the purpose of your visit to Finland?”

Friend: *excited* “My friend just had a baby and I’m going to be the godmother and I’m really excited.”

Border Guard: *deadpan* “Pleasure.” *stamps her passport*