After an overnight flight to meet my father
at his latest military assignment, my mother wearily arrived at Rhein-Main Air Base in
Germany with my eight siblings and me - all under age 11. Collecting our many suitcases,
the ten of us entered the cramped customs area.
A young customs official watched our
entourage in disbelief, "Ma'am," he said, "do all these children and this
luggage belong to you?"
"Yes, sir," my mother said with a
sigh. "They're all mine."
The customs agent began his interrogation:
"Ma'am, do you have any weapons, contraband or illegal drugs in your
possession?"
"Sir," she calmly answered,
"if I'd had any of those items, I would have used them by now."
The official allowed us to pass without
opening a single suitcase.
