Risk

As I was leaving for the airport at the end of my trip to Indy, Jeanne dug up a healthy clump of purple coneflower in full bloom. I put the rootball into a Kroger shopping bag, and jammed it into my black backpack.  The flowers burst out 2 feet through the opening.

When I got to the airport, the security people eyed the backpack and motioned to the conveyor belt. I lay down the backpack roots first and the coneflowers emerged out the other end in perfect condition.

When I got to my gate, the ticket agent told me that the flight attendants would never allow the plant on board. 

The flight was delayed, and delayed and delayed again. I finished all my puzzles. The airline gave the passengers vouchers for food.  It grew dark outside. Passengers and ticket agents grew tired and cranky.  Finally, the plane arrived at the gate and unloaded its passengers.  The intercom told us we had 5 minutes to load up.

I got in line with my ticket, the backpack on my shoulders, the coneflowers waving over my head.  When I got to my seat, the flight attendant told me to stuff them in the overhead.

I got them home without a scratch.

On another flight home, I brought a Rubbermaid pail with a periwinkle blue lid and handle.  Inside was precious cargo -- organic cow manure from Katie's farm.  After a routine scan at airport security, the pail took its flight at my feet in the cabin as I was not confident about the lid on takeoff and landing.

I got the manure home without incident.

Sometimes things seem unlikely, but they work out.