I cross the border every two or three weeks (Canada/US, usually in the Niagara
area but sometimes at Thousand Islands) with nary a problem. I carry a valid
passport, I leave my attitude at home, I carry documentation or receipts for
anything I'm bringing over, I take off my sunglasses when being questioned by
the Customs officials. Granted, I haven't flown into the States in a few
years.
The only odd interrogation I'll receive in fact comes from Canadian officials,
usually at the Thousand Islands entrance, where they'll ask if I'm importing
liquor, tobacco, firearms, ammo or pepper spray (I kid you not). Records? What
are those? (One time I had over a thousand 78s in the car and proof that
they'd
cost me next to nothing, and the guard insisted on knowing "What is the most
expensive record you bought?" I got sent over for inspection and the
supervisor
looked and said "Oh, yeah..him. Have a nice day.")
Well, many years ago, one had to pick up all out-of-country parcels
at the Toronto Canada-Customs office, located on Front Street (in
Toronto) just east of Union Station. In 15-20 years of picking up
parcels containing 78's, I always brought a copy of my "Dating Guide"
to prove they were over 50 years old. In all that time, only one
Customs officer noticed that the name of the parcel's recipient and
the author of the reference work just happened to be identical...?!
Most of the time, the Customs person was in his/her/its twenties...
and upon seeing the contents were 78rpm records, simply assumed
they were of the same age as Methuselah, give or take...
Steven C. Barr