Worms on the Plane

This weekend I flew to Oregon to see my niece and her family, including her new one month old son.  Trying to be a good great-aunt, I knew I needed to bring older sister a gift.

What better gift than composting worms?  Isn’t that what every little girl wants?

So, I went to home depot and bought a small white bucket.  I came home and set up a small worm bin in the little bucket.  I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get it on the airplane or not, what with security being what it is, but I knew I had to give it a try.

I arrived at the ticket counter with my suitcase, my laptop case and my worm bucket.  (What? Doesn’t everyone carry around a worm bucket?).  The agent that checked me in asked what was in the bucket.  I told him, “Composting worms.”

“You’re not going to be able to fly with those.” He said.

“Well, I’m prepared for that, but can you tell me why?”

“Health concerns.” He said.

Of course, you and I know that that is ridiculous.  There are no health concerns surrounding composting worms.  They don’t even smell bad!

I didn’t argue with him.  He didn’t take my worms, so I just took them and kept going. I went through security with no problem or comment from anyone.  The worms seemed none the worse for wear from the x-ray.  I tried to stay away from the area directly surrounding my gate just in case the ticket agent had sent some kind of message to the gate warning them of my clandestine worms.

I was the first one to board.  I slipped my worm bucket into the overhead bin and sat down, looking innocent.  No one said anything to me at all.  My worms safely made it to Salem, where they are composting today.