Apparently the TSA must inspect suspicious luggage. On a recent trip, I bought two knitting books, was given a candle, and had the usual assortment of cosmetics and Rx. I decided that I did not want to drag the weight around through the airport, so carefully packed the books flat in the center of my suitcase, nestled between the newly purchased blouse and the bag of laundry. Then I added the lint roller, hand cream, candle, curling iron, cosmetics in baggies, and my nightgown. Somehow, this combo triggered the suspicious search. I know, I know. Mr. CP does not check luggage.....
I know that a condition of flying is that if you check luggage it could be searched. I am o.k. with that. But searching is a different thing than "rummaging". Although I cannot imagine digging through other peoples stuff in suitcases, I would have appreciated that the person neatly return things to the suitcase. Apparently the books were the offending items---removed from their protective bags and crunched on the top of my now disorganized "stuff". Maybe they were expecting something more interesting or exotic??? Maybe they thought that I had subversive ingredients? They could have put it back the way it was--not matter how disappointed or disguisted they were.
Really, a lint roller, some knitting books, and a candle are pretty dangerous....but next time, I will leave the candle behind!