Going, Coming Home, 1980

(May 9 to October 26)

We had to visit Dallas on business this year (watching our money disappear), so we scheduled this trip to start while we are there on business, and we must conduct more business when we return. (Calling that “fiasco” business, must be the world’s greatest oxymoron.)

Braniff Airlines had just started flying from Dallas, Texas, to Frankfurt, Germany, and offered a special price to get the customers started. We had called for information and a tentative reservation, and a day or so later, we heard they were not going to offer these low fares anymore. I called and finally the supervisor agreed to let us have the special fare, after all. We spent a couple of days in Dallas, then caught the Braniff flight to Frankfurt, Germany, with a quick stop-and-go in London. We did arrive on time, this time

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On our return we landed in London again for a few minutes, then when we arrived in Dallas, Braniff Airlines unloaded the 747 in a room with enough space for 1/3 that many people, and little room for luggage. We had five large items, including a three-by-four feet package holding a Spindler picture, (marquetry, made with veneer-thin pieces of wood), and a half dozen little carry-on bags.

There’s a limit of two large suitcases per person, so in Frankfurt when I spotted a man with only one suitcase, I asked him to check one of ours. In later years, with all the airport security problems, no one would do that anymore.

We watched the US customs agents looking through suitcases, carry-on bags, ladies handbags, and even examining wallets. We could just imagine another hour in the Dallas Airport opening and closing our treasure trove, but when it was our turn, they just asked if we were in the art business (because of the Spindler picture), then waved us on our way.

Wonder what was going on, anyway. Why did they check those other people so carefully, and not check us at all? We aren’t complaining, just wondering.