This week when returning to DFW from Chihuahua Mexico I was stopped by Customs and asked if I had ever lived in California. I had to think for a moment as I was born in California but grew up in Oklahoma and now live in Texas. So I told him no, just Oklahoma and Texas. He looked at my passport again and something on the screen and then let me go. I am a little puzzled why I was asked this question. I do have a very common first and last name, think Mary Smith. Does anyone know why they would ask me if I had lived in California?

A few years ago I was sent to the Tulsa Airport police department for a security/background check as the company I worked for was located on the airport. The police officer asked me if I had ever lived in Houston, the answer was no. He then asked me to stand up and asked me my height. I guess he couldn't read my driver's license he had in front of him. I told him I am 5'6". He told me it's a good thing you aren't 5'10", there are warrants out for a woman with your same name. As I was leaving I asked him what my namesake had done, she was wanted for assault, battery, passing forged checks, oh yippy skippy.

I guess I thought with all the electronic systems they have now that identities wouldn't be confused just because the name is the same.