In October 2010 I had to fly to Boston for a board meeting. I was going to carry my bag on, when I realized that I had to bring the ceremonial gavel that we use for our meetings.

Would a gavel make it through security, I wondered? Although it is made of wood, it looks like a hammer. I could probably hurt someone if I hit them hard enough in the head with it.

But could I overcome a flight attendant and hijack an airplane with a gavel? Most likely not. However, the TSA used to think that nail clippers were dangerous, and you just never know.

So, to avoid any potential hassle or, God forbid, having to throw the gavel away in the security line trash bin, I decided to check my bag and tried to remember when we didn’t have to think about such things.