Day: February 15, 2010

Family Feud

/ Surina Khan / Leave a comment

Puchi was a bit put off by my recent post about Akber’s first words (See Repeat After Me, posted on February 14, 2010). She wrote on my Facebook page, “I would think that you would need some sort of permission/approval to continue posting my pics/stories that concern me? I really am quite a private person…the only reason, I didn’t say anything before is cause you have all the photos and the blog is the only way I can see them I guess.”

Oops. I felt bad, but I couldn’t help noticing the fact that she posted this on a comment thread related to one of my status updates, which didn’t seem to be the most private way to express her concern. But, whatever, I didn’t want her to be mad at me.

Trying to avoid a Facebook fight with my sister, I responded that I would keep her on the DL from now on. “Or,” I offered, “You could try considering Rodge and Podge’s advice?” (See Who Needs Marriage? posted February 12, 2010).

This seems to have done the trick. Because then she wrote, “Oh yeah…forgot that great advice already. Never mind my earlier post. I must remember that Rodge and Podge are my new gurus.”

“Good,” I responded. “Because, I must warn you, the Patsy and Eddy stories are coming.” If you’ve ever watched the show Absolutely Fabulous, this will make a lot more sense to you: Growing up, I felt like Sapphy living with Patsy (Puchi) and Eddy (Mimo). Puchi will need to heed Rodge and Podge’s advice when I start posting those stories.

According to Mimo, Rodge and Podge say, “If I could care less, I would.” Words to live by.

I still don’t know who they are, but thank goodness for Rodge and Podge. They have no idea, but they helped avert a potentially public family feud.

 
Puchi and me. I seem to be annoying her here too.
This photo was taken in Saratoga Springs in 1978.

No-Fly Watch List: Part 3

/ Surina Khan / 1 Comment

I filed my paperwork with the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Identity Program last week, asking to have my name removed from the No-Fly Watch List. They immediately gave me a Redress Control Number: 2087710. I hope this does not mean that there are two million, eighty-seven thousand, seven hundred and nine people ahead of me.

A few hours after I filed the paperwork electronically and via the US Postal Service, including a copy of my US passport, I thought to myself, “Oh heck, why not try and print my boarding pass for my flight to San Francisco in the morning?” And to my great surprise, I was able to print my boarding pass from home. Did the Department of Homeland Security really move that fast?

Maybe, I thought, being good-natured about being on the No-Fly Watch List brought me good karma? I mean, I haven’t really complained or lost my cool with any of the TSA staff, and I’m considering putting one of these stickers on my luggage.

Two days later, I was getting ready to fly home from San Francisco. I didn’t have time to print my boarding pass in advance so I went to the Self Check-In Kiosk at the airport, and got to the very last step of printing my boarding pass. And then I saw the familiar error message telling me to see a ticket agent. Rats. I knew it was too good to be true.

The JetBlue staff, as friendly as ever, tried to appease me again as they filled out the necessary paperwork. “I’m on the No-Fly Watch List too,” said one of the ticket agents. “And I have all these badges and security clearances,” he said pointing to the multiple laminated identity cards hanging from his neck.

My friend Tarso is an expert on all things related to racial profiling, so when he heard I was on the No-Fly Watch List, he said, “I think they’re going after all the Khans. I heard Chaka is having the same problem and even Herbie Hancock, apparently for that ‘Chaka Khan’ remix of Prince’s ‘I feel for you.’ Bollywood star Aamir Khan is in the same boat too.”  Well, that’s a relief.