raj

Pre-September 11th (2001)… actually, I think it was September 8th.. 3AM, we`re crossing the border to go have some food (grease) at Denny`s. Now for background, Blaine Washington is the border town. The Denny`s is 500 yards away from the border, the yellow sign is visible from the border and it lights up the night

Go through a truck crossing as the regular crossing isclosed so here we are, I`m in my audi staring up 8 feet to where the border guard is sitting with his feet up, sticking out of the booth.. he sees me, kicks up and looks down..

“Where you all headin` at this hour, son?”

I respond, “Denny`s sir.. to have breakfast”

“Well you have a good breakfast at Lenny`s” (and I say with emphasis,Lenny`s)

…. now this was interesting from the point of view that these people are trusted to protect our borders and are usually armed with a discerning eye for detail.. Obviously this fellow had knocked back a couple too many bourbon prior to his shift or perhaps he wasn`t aware of the bigyellow sign with the word Denny`s behind him. I guess speeling (sic) is not a prerequisite for working at the border.

On a different note, policies seem to vary from crossing to crossing. I`ve been turned away at Point Roberts since I didn`t have 10 pieces of I.D. with me…(a little background: Pt. Roberts is a little tip of land which belongs to USA and is surrounded by Canada.. it is a small piece .. so small that the children who live there usually travel from Pt. Roberts, through Canada to Blaine to go to school)… even though once at Pt. Roberts, there really wasn`t much to do.. but I did have dinner reservations there at Brewsters which was the original scope of the evening.. :/ yeesh!

Note to self.. border crossing guards work at Pt. Roberts as there is no other valid assignment for them, it`s akin to being assigned to Alaska (or BFE as it may be calledin certain states for sure.. btw prize goes out to the person who can tell me what BFE stands for). I suppose I understand their bitterness now.

Thirdly, went shopping this weekend … decided that going south was the plan… hit the border when the guard asks me.. “where you goin`?” … I reply, “down to peace arch for some shopping and then maybe further in..” to which he responds, “people do that? really?i thought that placewas a ghost town…” .. the guard was more interested in shopping venues than in finding out our citizenships.. aww well, i guess the edumacation (sic) system today may be to blame?