Do you have a Swiss Army knife? For some reason, these knives keep popping into my life lately. As a Camp Fire Girl in my childhood, I had a version of a Swiss Army knife (no name brand for me back in the day), that included a fork and a spoon in addition to a knife. It was something to take on camping trips…eating utensils all in one place. But my camping career ending with my exit from the CFGs–I definitely prefer a hotel-based outdoor experience.

When my grandsons turned 10 a few weeks ago, it seemed like the perfect time to gift them their first pocket knives, and a Swiss Army knife was the knife of choice. Their grandpa achieved Eagle Scout status in his childhood and still has his first Swiss Army knife and many, many, many outdoor utensil gadgets. Their knives were accompanied by instructions for use and careful supervision by their dads. (You might imagine that their dads, my sons, also have Swiss Army knives gifted to them as children.)

I stopped carrying my small Swiss Army knife with its handy scissors and tweezers when I was doing a lot of traveling. It’s hard to remember where a small pocket knife is allowed and where this innocuous tool forbidden…and potentially confiscated, so I just left it at home all the time. I saw some teachers pull out their Swiss Army knives at a recent conference to use their scissors for some collaging and found writing (more about that experience here). I was wishing for my knife then!

Just a few days ago my husband was scrolling and came across the newest addition to the Swiss Army knife family called the Jetsetter. First, it is guaranteed TSA compliant–it isn’t actually a knife at all. But it looks like a Swiss Army knife and includes scissors (yay!), a screwdriver/bottle opener, tweezers, and a toothpick.

And today, just as my late afternoon Zoom meeting was about to start, I saw him glance at his Alexa and go to the front door. Seconds later he was handing me a tiny box. And in it, was my own Jetsetter! It’s already on my keychain. Can’t wait to have the opportunity to pull this tiny, shiny red tool out and put it through its paces!