Two Moments

Well, three.

First, nobody at the border ordered me to smile. That's a victory. Actually, it was a new agent, so maybe they heard me. (Delusions of power.)

Second, you know you're in Texas when you hear someone behind you say "tin?" and you realize they're saying "ten." No question, just uptalking? You know?

Third, I had a little pang during the announcements on my two American Airlines flights. The main steward did his deal with the seat belts and oxygen masks and then added an admonishment. The "captain" came on to echo it: there is to be no standing in line for the washrooms. Before you get up from your seat, you are to check to be sure no one is already in line. Because you cannot stand in line.

I'm sure it's a response to concerns about in-flight turbulence but it's also a post-9/11 safety thing. And, unlike the taking-off-of-shoes, showing-of-three-bottles-in-a-zipped-plastic-bag, stripping-of-sweaters charades, it's something that feels like a meaningful request. To me, anyway.