A funny thing happened on our way up Rt. 19

I feel we all could use a laugh, especially me after this past week, so humor has won out over potential embarrassment and I’m going to share the following story.

Background: This happened on Christmas Eve. Pat and I were in Arizona visiting my parents. Remember I had the smaller stent in and was taking pain medicine. It usually only bothered me if I was moving a lot and because it had been an exceptionally long day, I assumed it would bother me that night so I put my Demerol in my pocket before we headed out. We went to Tumacacori on Christmas Eve to see the luminaries. Route 19 is the highway that runs north from Nogales, Mexico to Tucson and is the road we took to Tumacacori. It’s pretty common for there to be a temporary border patrol station set up on the northbound side of Route 19. We passed it on the way down and commented that they’d probably shut it down before we headed home since it was Christmas Eve.

We got to Tumacacori where it was quite dark, except for the candlelight of the luminaries. It really was a beautiful sight like one we have never seen before. The sky was absolutely beautiful – more stars than we have ever seen. Someone pointed out this large, bright cluster and said it was another galaxy. As someone who can never find the Big Dipper, I took his word for it. We skipped the hot cocoa and cookies and headed for home. Since I had taken a single Demerol pill, I decided it would be best if Pat drove. I rode shotgun and mom and dad were in the backseat.

We begin our way north on Route 19 and soon see the bright lights of the Border Patrol station. They had not shut down for the holiday so we slowed down and got in line to go through. We were about 4 cars back when I noticed that one of the border patrol had a dog that was sniffing around the cars. Suddenly the dog charged back towards our car. We thought nothing of it and opened the window to talk to the guard. He looked in the car saw Pat and I and my parents asked if we owned the car. My dad said he did. Then the guard asked if the car had been in for service lately – my dad paused before answering and the guard continued with “because sometimes when your car is in for service the technicians may smoke marijuana in and around the car and that could be what the dog smells”. But dad’s answer was “No, hasn’t been in for service”. The guard asked that we drive forward a little to see what the dog would do. Pat nailed the gas pedal and the guard just about lost his arm as the dog lunged after the car.

We stop again and the guard asks us if we would mind pulling over. By this time we are all very confused and not sure what the dog smells, so we obey the nice man in the uniform with the dog with the big teeth and pull over. I can tell my parents are slightly upset by this and though it’s not a common occurrence for Pat and I to be pulled over we are starting to find it slightly amusing. A second guard has us all exit the car and asks some questions. “What medications do we use”, “Do we carry any medication in the car on a regular basis”, “Have we been down to Mexico lately”, etc. I see where he is going with the questions – he’s trying to find out if my parents buy their medications in Mexico. They answer “No” to all of his questions. Meanwhile the man and the dog are circling the car. When given a little leeway on his leash, the dog immediately jumps into the passenger seat – where I had been sitting. Suddenly all eyes on are on me because it’s apparent that the dog is not going to move. I sheepishly look at the nice officer, reach my hand in my pocket and pull out 2 Demerol pills.

Yes, I was carrying the Demerol lose in my pocket without the prescription or prescription bottle. Not my wisest decision. The officer asks what it is and when I tell him “Demerol”, he asks what kind of medication. “Pain medicine”. “Oh, that’s it then. That’s what the dog smells – it’s probably heroin based. Well, you all have a nice night”. I’m standing there thinking “that’s all??” No comments about carrying narcotics without a prescription? No “I’ll take those pills off your hands”? No “why are you taking this medicine?” So we all climb back in the car and continue the drive home.

Suddenly I find the whole thing very amusing. We start to wonder out loud, “how did that dog smell 2 pills?” “Did it really smell those 2 pills in my pocket or do my pores just emit so many different scents that the dog was just drawn to me?” When we stopped to think about it with the amount of chemicals running through my system – I’m sure I don’t smell like most people. Fortunately we didn’t have to explain this to officer. The rest of the drive home and vacation was uneventful, though we did avoid driving south for the rest of the trip. And as far as I know, none of my parents friends noticed us pulled over at border patrol.

I get my CT scan results today along with an Erbitux treatment and will also be making some decisions about how we will proceed with my ureter issues so it’s going to be a busy day. I’ll post again when I know more.

Posted by jean at January 26, 2006 10:35 AM