TSA agent: "You want to explain to me what THIS is used for?"

This was one of those moments when you have to keep a straight face.

I was going through airport security with my three kids at the Minneapolis airport. It was a cold week and so we were juggling coats, boots, Nintendo Switches, laptops, a guitar, and of course a trumpet.

We must have filled twelve of those trays. I was feeling ridiculously flattered because the 78-year-old lady behind us was oohing and awwing over my packing skills (I knew she was 78 because she announced her age so she wouldn't have to take her shoes off. LOL).

On the other side of the luggage X-Ray machine, we started to recombobulate ourselves. Putting our shoes back on and whatnot.

My daughter (who can be a little shy and doesn't like to have a lot of attention directed at her) was horrified that they took her backpack for a closer inspection. I tried to tell her that they look through everyone's bag while they took a closer look at a box of multicolored slimes that she got as a gift.

They finished, and I breathed a sigh of relief when they handed her bag back and turned their attention to my bag. No more feeling embara...

...

"Excuse me ma'am," he said holding up my trumpet stand that had somehow gotten into my backpack instead of the case. "Do you want to explain to me what this is used for?"

Now it was my turn to be embarrassed because he was so loud and passersby were looking at me as if to ask, "Indeed, what in the world is that?"

"Well sir," I said, getting ready to make it sound technical and important. "That is a stand for a trumpet... you can unscrew the legs and store it in the bell of the trumpet here."

"Oh, I see," and gave me my stuff.

Phew.

I got to tell you, travelling with instruments and kids can be challenging. What do you do to make it go smoother?

(Let me know in the comments)