Jack wrote this in June, 2006:
In 1961, I joined the US Army for three years with the intention of killing young Russian men to keep this from happening in the US:
Saturday, I joined the throngs of US senior citizens crossing the International Boundary to trek a couple of blocks into Mexico to buy prescription medications. The reason we were all braving the hot, the skyrocketing gas prices, the long drive and the short walk?
A block south of the border, prescription meds cost a tiny fraction of their cost a block north of the International Boundary.
But that’s another issue for another time.
Coming back waiting on the US side behind a line of oldsters in the US Border patrol station, the fun begins.
Guy with a gun, a uniform and a Hitler mustache: “Do you have anything to declare?”
Elderly lady pushes through the turnstile to stand in front of his table. “I have this.” She holds up a bulging plastic bag.
Guy with a gun, a uniform and a Hitler mustache: “I didn’t tell you you could come through the turnstile. Go back to the other side.”
She goes back to wherever a person is when on the other side of the turnstile.
Guy with a gun, a uniform and a Hitler mustache: “OK. Now you can come through.”
She goes back through the turnstile, stands in front of him. “Do you have anything to declare? Medications, anything?”
She holds up the bag again, but before she can speak, elderly hubby, the other side of the turnstile, holds up a bag. “I’ve got the medications here.” Pushes part way through the turnstile holding up the bag.
“DO NOT COME THROUGH THAT TURNSTILE UNTIL I SAY YOU CAN!”
Old man, startled, backs into never-never-land, turnstile clicking.
Hitler mustache to woman: “Do you have anything to declare? Medications? Anything?”
Hubby across the turnstile to wife: “God Damn it! I told him I have the medications over here.”
And so, ad infinitum.
Mr. Uniformed Mustache with a gun never came out and said,
“I am one stupid son of a bitch here to give elderly US citizens a hard time when after they have to walk into another country to get their medications at a reasonable price.”
He didn’t need to.
Jack
So Far From Heaven 