If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know I have been selling our home wares on eBay and Craigslist in preparation for our move aboard Cream Puff. As I get money in my PayPal account, I purchase something on the wish list for Cream Puff. So far ~ knock on wood ~ my experiences have been uneventful and the products purchased have been well represented in their listings.
Going off on a tangent here for a minute; did you hear about the crazy lady, 19-year-old Miranda Barbour? She is claiming, as part of a satanic cult, to have killed over 22 people she met on Craigslist from Alaska to North Carolina. Apparently according to the AP, she wants to go to jail. She stated if she comes out of jail she will most likely kill again. It should come of no surprise, her attorney has asked for a psychiatric evaluation. And, people ask me if we are afraid of piracy on the ocean ~ just saying.
Okay, back to the topic at hand. I won an auction for a transformer on eBay. It was a great deal. I love great deals! But, and you knew there had to be a but, it was shipping from Pakistan. I am not one to dwell on the political climates of other countries and their relationship with the United States. We all know darn well a boxy electronics item coming from Pakistan is going to raise an eyebrow with a fella in The Department of Homeland Security. Hey, what the heck, I figured, I have eBay’s Buyers Protection. Someday, I really need to read what that’s about.
My Pakistani Parcel – Please Note the Neat Hemming – No Doubt a Professional Seamstress or Taylor
About three weeks later my package shows up. I use the word “package” because of my limited command of the English language and I’m too lazy to open up the thesaurus. What showed up was wrapped in what I think might have once been a pillowcase. Granted, it was nicely sewn up and even had paperwork tied on with string.
The Official Paperwork – Neatly Tied With String
Important Paperwork – Not in English
Hand written on the package/pillowcase was my address. And, the whole thing was covered with official looking rubber stamps. Hey, different strokes for different folks. Who am I to question how people in other countries ship their stuff. However, I can’t help but think there is a Pakistani somewhere looking for their pillowcase.
The Official Rubber Stamps of Approval
Judging by the fact the stitching was still in place, it appears this just easily sailed through Homeland Security. They probably wondered why the heck I ordered such a hard orthopedic pillow.
Believe it or not, the contents were just fine and worked just as the seller had claimed. This grungy old pillowcase traveled thousands of miles by who-knows-what methods of transportation. After handling, my skin itched just a little. I need to go. I have to wash my hands, again.
