US teenagers have bagpipes seized at Canada border after competition

[jberryhill]

43. I get asked that one all of the time

...coming back to the US. I've gotten so I just prepare something bland to say. I used to get a little freaked when I was coming back from visiting a client and the US border agent wanted to know details about that. I say I do patent and trademark work, but every now and then one will ask something along the lines of "like what?"

The one time I got secondaried in the US was was when I just sort of looked at the guy and said, "I'm a lawyer" with one of those raised eyebrow "you know" expressions on my face. He, like many law enforcement officers, was not fond of lawyers, and I'm sympathetic to that. Lawyers are the folks who they see as nuisances who get in the way of them doing what they think is their job [1]. But he marked me for secondary inspection. The absolutely lovely lady from APHIS went through my bag with me and finally said, "Do you know why they sent you over here? Do you have any food or plants?" And I said, "I have no idea why they sent me over here" and she muttered something about the folks at the entry point and let me go.

It's a really weird moment when you are standing there in front of a guy in uniform who wants to ask you who is your client, what do they do, why was I meeting with them, and so on. Part of you would just as soon go through it in boring detail, but the other part of you says, "Start down this road and you are going to break a rule."

[1] Although the really cringeworthy moment when I have to confess my occupation is when any medical professional on the verge of treating me asks. As soon as I say it, they stiffen up and give me a look like they are sizing up a boxing opponent. Although, once in a while, on the followup "Oh yeah, what sort of law?" I do say "medical malpractice" just for shits and giggles. But if I say "patents", the visit will be extended due to them having to tell me about this thing they invented...