My friend had a similar situation except it was her very old weed that she had forgot about and she did cross the border. That incident haunted her for decades every time she tried to get into the US. Glad you were ok!
I wrote an entire book about travels that went sideways! Brokedown Palace---what a throwback (Claire Danes is solid gold)! Years ago, a random woman on a bus in Costa Rica asked if I could watch her bag for five minutes at a rest stop. I nearly had a meltdown the moment she stepped off the bus suddenly imagining all the terrible what if's. She eventually returned with chicharonnes, no SWAT team takedown was involved. I was a hot mess though.
I've watched Border Patrol too---yeah, you would have been a shoo-in. I haven't had any car rental "finds" but I did love the small town-ness of simply leaving the rental key under the sun visor for the owner after parking it at the airport in the Magdalen Islands (Quebec).
I have NEVER forgotten that movie, it had such an impact. Same as I never forgot the movie Hostel, and then my son left for a month to go backpacking around Europe. I had panic attacks daily while he was gone 😆😆
That's so cute about the rental in QC. Ahh, that small-town vibe. I once left a private rental alone in Jamaica with the keys in it, too, but for a much different reason, lol. That story will come later!
I've never forgotten that movie called Adam, based on a true and terrifying story of the boy who was kidnapped from a Sears store in Florida. The father, as you may know, went on to found (and host) America's Most Wanted. I was 10 or so when I watched it and it was my greatest fear (being kidnapped, not shopping at Sears).
We still hostel on occasion so I'll save that scare for the future!
I'll never forget Adam either. All those stories of missing kids haunted me as a child. And now that true crime TV is mainstream its difficult to not be affected by it.
I know a lot of people who would really celebrate that kind of find. I'm just glad the universe kept you in check and didn't send you to Detroit/prison.
My brother once left a wadded up note stuck between the seats of a rental car. He was entertaining his 8yo son as we went through a venture together of my car breaking down, hitching a tow truck (where the driver let my bro and nephew ride in the towed vehicle...a total no-no) and then renting a car to go buy a new car for me...all on the way to the airport to send them back home. The note he left was really a one-page story detailing their ventures for whomever would find it.
I still wonder if anyone ever did find that story written for them.
Awwww that is so special!! That's kind of like a message in a bottle 🍾
If I'd left a story like that, I might have left an email address on it too. Just because I'd be curious about who read it and how it made them feel.
That reminds me so much of my $20 bill floating around somewhere out there! I wrote about it hoping that somehow, someday somebody would find it and find my story and let me know lol.
Wow. That could have taken a dark turn. Holy heck.
I have travelled extensively in my work over the past twenty-ish years and have never found that in a rental car. But wow. I can only imagine the conversations at the border.
Wow 😳another great story, dear Kristi! I totally would have given that weed to your friend that smokes, lol 🤣🤣🤣 when I light up a spliff later today (because I most definitely will 😉), I shall do so in honor of you both! Namaste 🙏🩵🫂✌🏽🪷
Yes, lucky you being in Canada. Had this story happened in Niagara Falls, New York (across the falls from the one in Ontario), the results might have been different.
How do we know it was returned to the rental company at the same weight it was when it was initially placed in the glove compartment? Your friend didn't have to keep it, per se. This sounds like the beginning of a chose your own adventure story. So many options.
We haven’t found anything odd in any of our rental cars. However we did once find in an Airbnb a pink vibrator in the tv remote drawer. My husband actually found it. He was mortified and was reluctant to tell me. I have a good laugh about it every time I remember it. 🤣🤣🤣
Omg that is hilarious!!! That's one for the books, for sure. I love hearing about wacky things people find in hotels and stuff. And of course nobody called back to claim their vibrator 😁
It was one of those airbnb’s which was the home of the owner. So it was hers! I did have to message her after we left to suggest removing it from the property. Mind you, they’re very ‘open-minded’ in Norway! 🍌
My friend had a similar situation except it was her very old weed that she had forgot about and she did cross the border. That incident haunted her for decades every time she tried to get into the US. Glad you were ok!
No way!!! So, you're saying she got caught then? Ouch!
Yes and it got tricky!
I wrote an entire book about travels that went sideways! Brokedown Palace---what a throwback (Claire Danes is solid gold)! Years ago, a random woman on a bus in Costa Rica asked if I could watch her bag for five minutes at a rest stop. I nearly had a meltdown the moment she stepped off the bus suddenly imagining all the terrible what if's. She eventually returned with chicharonnes, no SWAT team takedown was involved. I was a hot mess though.
I've watched Border Patrol too---yeah, you would have been a shoo-in. I haven't had any car rental "finds" but I did love the small town-ness of simply leaving the rental key under the sun visor for the owner after parking it at the airport in the Magdalen Islands (Quebec).
I have NEVER forgotten that movie, it had such an impact. Same as I never forgot the movie Hostel, and then my son left for a month to go backpacking around Europe. I had panic attacks daily while he was gone 😆😆
That's so cute about the rental in QC. Ahh, that small-town vibe. I once left a private rental alone in Jamaica with the keys in it, too, but for a much different reason, lol. That story will come later!
I've never forgotten that movie called Adam, based on a true and terrifying story of the boy who was kidnapped from a Sears store in Florida. The father, as you may know, went on to found (and host) America's Most Wanted. I was 10 or so when I watched it and it was my greatest fear (being kidnapped, not shopping at Sears).
We still hostel on occasion so I'll save that scare for the future!
I'll never forget Adam either. All those stories of missing kids haunted me as a child. And now that true crime TV is mainstream its difficult to not be affected by it.
On the flip (lighter) side, the other great influential movie of my childhood was Porky's--I watched it with my aunt. Did I just type that out loud?
I know a lot of people who would really celebrate that kind of find. I'm just glad the universe kept you in check and didn't send you to Detroit/prison.
My brother once left a wadded up note stuck between the seats of a rental car. He was entertaining his 8yo son as we went through a venture together of my car breaking down, hitching a tow truck (where the driver let my bro and nephew ride in the towed vehicle...a total no-no) and then renting a car to go buy a new car for me...all on the way to the airport to send them back home. The note he left was really a one-page story detailing their ventures for whomever would find it.
I still wonder if anyone ever did find that story written for them.
Awwww that is so special!! That's kind of like a message in a bottle 🍾
If I'd left a story like that, I might have left an email address on it too. Just because I'd be curious about who read it and how it made them feel.
That reminds me so much of my $20 bill floating around somewhere out there! I wrote about it hoping that somehow, someday somebody would find it and find my story and let me know lol.
https://wildhoodwanted.substack.com/p/the-search-for-one-twenty-dollar-bill?utm_source=publication-search
Oh my! What a tale!
Wow. That could have taken a dark turn. Holy heck.
I have travelled extensively in my work over the past twenty-ish years and have never found that in a rental car. But wow. I can only imagine the conversations at the border.
You're right about the dark turn! I still shudder thinking about it 😆😳
I guess you've been lucky...keep your fingers crossed!
I have indeed. I’ve definitely found things. And I have travel stories (I’ve probably forgotten most of them now). But yes. I’ve been fortunate. 😉✊🏻✌🏻
I’m just thinking how disappointed the previous renters would be as they debated on calling in and asking for it back.
Hahahaha you know, in all these years I never once thought about that 😆 Suckers!!
Wow! That's wild for sure.
But did your friend keep the weed? 😂
Lol that's the question of the hour here in comments 😁😁
Yep, road trip Easter egg! 😆
Wow 😳another great story, dear Kristi! I totally would have given that weed to your friend that smokes, lol 🤣🤣🤣 when I light up a spliff later today (because I most definitely will 😉), I shall do so in honor of you both! Namaste 🙏🩵🫂✌🏽🪷
Hahahaha Deanna, glad to entertain you 🤣 I still can't believe this has never happened in Jamaica but it did right here at home.
Might be better than the "unseen things" that can be left in rental cars
Okay, do tell. Now I'm curious what you're referring to 😁
must be what you are thinking
Omg, that could have gone soooo wrong. And to think you never found that in Jamaica.
I'm with Shoni, id have kept the weed and kept my mouth shut! At least your friend would have been happy! 🤣😁
Sooooo wrong!! I'm just thankful my right to enter the USA hasn't been compromised...although, I won't be coming there in the next 4 years 😁
As I was reading this I was thinking how funny this happened to you there and not in Jamaica…apparently you were thinking that too!
Right!!! That's one of the first thoughts I had as well because I've rented a LOT of cars in Jamaica....Budget was my sponsor!!
Yes, lucky you being in Canada. Had this story happened in Niagara Falls, New York (across the falls from the one in Ontario), the results might have been different.
Yup. That was definitely the scary part to think about!
Hahaha! I would have kept the weed and not mentioned it to the car rental place!
Lol I'm not sure why she didn't keep it!
How do we know it was returned to the rental company at the same weight it was when it was initially placed in the glove compartment? Your friend didn't have to keep it, per se. This sounds like the beginning of a chose your own adventure story. So many options.
Bahaha I guess we'll never know for SURE! 😁😎
What a shock!!! But did you return it all??
We haven’t found anything odd in any of our rental cars. However we did once find in an Airbnb a pink vibrator in the tv remote drawer. My husband actually found it. He was mortified and was reluctant to tell me. I have a good laugh about it every time I remember it. 🤣🤣🤣
Omg that is hilarious!!! That's one for the books, for sure. I love hearing about wacky things people find in hotels and stuff. And of course nobody called back to claim their vibrator 😁
It was one of those airbnb’s which was the home of the owner. So it was hers! I did have to message her after we left to suggest removing it from the property. Mind you, they’re very ‘open-minded’ in Norway! 🍌
Lol that's the best finisher to your story!! 🤣 She must have been so embarrassed.
No doubt!