I recently drove to
Alaska - it was one of the most
stunning and
incredible experiences of my
life. Coupled with
personal problems I was having with my car
companion/
partner/
SO/whatever, it made for a very
emotionally charged trip. But the most
amusing part of the
journey was thanks to the
US Customs Guards at the entry point to Alaska.
See... Snack'ems was sitting on the dashboard. Snack'ems is a car lizard. He's a big, bright green, beautiful piece of fluff. Snack'ems has a personality - everyone can't help but talk to him. But try as we all might like to pretend, Snack'ems ain't real.
But the Customs guys certainly thought so...
Them: "Hey! You can't bring native life into the country without the proper papers!" We're told, sitting in line peacefully.
Us: Native Life?
Them: Oh, wait, is that real?
Us: What?
Them: The lizard!
Us: Oh. No. That's our car lizard.
Them: (Their turn to be confused) Oh. Okay then.
...And we're waved through. But seriously: Native Life? What are they teaching Customs officials these days? It's not as if we left American en route to Vancouver and somehow made a pitstop in the Bahamas...?