How NOT to Travel with Homemade Gifts

This week I flew across the U.S. to visit my relatives for the holidays. I packed many colorful jars and bottles of homemade preserves to give as gifts.

I knew that because they might count as "liquids or gels over 3 oz.," I would probably not be able to get my suitcase through as a carry on. I planned to give myself plenty of time to check my gift-laden bag.

Maybe it was because Mercury was still retrograde when I left, or maybe just a string of lousy coincidences. In any case, most of my preserves did not make it to the intended recipients.

First the airline web site was down so I couldn't check in and print my boarding pass at home. Then there were 45 minutes of delays waiting for the train(s) to the airport.

Then...well, let's just say my luck continued like that until I found myself in line at security nearly in tears, knowing that I didn't have time to check my suitcase and that there was a good chance I might miss my plane.

I was not surprised when I was pulled aside after the x-ray screening and a TSA officer started taking all of my jars and bottles of preserves out of my suitcase.

I learned that a 4 oz. jar of Pear and Butternut Squash Preserves is not considered dangerous (I got to keep that), but the same size jar of Quince Jelly is apparently a potential threat. Strawberry Red Currant Preserves, Grapefruit Marmalade and Apple Scrap Jelly were also confiscated. Quince Paste was not.

Fortunately, I had canned Prickly Pear Jelly in little 1 oz. gift jars, and packaged Herbal Vinegars in 2 oz. sample-sized bottles. Those were small enough to clear security.

I really hope the TSA personnel got to enjoy all that good stuff they had to take, and not just toss it!

Photo © Leda Meredith