How could I possibly be a fly risk?!...

In my previous blog, I promised to share the story behind the flying risk...

It all began back around 2001, when I was taking a US Foreign Policy and Terrorism class at NC State. On the first day of class, we were warned: "If you have anything to hide from the government, this is not the class for you." Hmmm, that was an interesting way to begin a 400 level (aka, Sr.) class. Luckily, it was further explained. The on-line research that we would be conducting for the class would cause the federal agencies to "red flag" us for suspicion. In addition to that, our emails/on-line use may be monitored. I was fine with that - nothing to hide!

What she failed to mention was that being red flagged also meant that airlines had to take a special precaution, as well. Then again, this was almost nine months before the 9/11 attacks, so perhaps it wasn't a noted issue during that term. On my first flight, later that year, I was pulled aside by the airport's TSA.  Nothing about my appearance or demeanor suggested terrorist, so I was a bit surprised by the harsh nature and overly thorough patting down that I received, as well as the combing of every item in my backpack and the trashing of my contact eye drops! (Yep, they were tossed into the trash bin!) 

I thought it was a fluke, until the flight home....repeated scenario, minus the eye drops, which I opted not to pack. The following year, both in September and in December, the same thing. (Albeit, the gal in the two-gate, North Dakota, airport was exceptionally nice.) Coming home from Sweden, my underwear and other unmentionables were splayed out by the over-eager attendant rummaging through my suitcases. Sigh.

On my first flight with my eldest, who was just shy of a year old, I thought MAYBE the crazy would cease. On my flight out of Raleigh, I was accompanied by a family friend who was allowed past the checkpoint to help me with departure. No problems. On the way back, from Phili, however - a completely different story. As I broke down the stroller, two more personnel than the four already present (and no one in this particular line), began to watch me. I was told that I couldn't leave the baby in the carseat; so, took her out and added it to the conveyer belt. When I began to walk through the scanner holding my baby, a sextet of voices shouted, "No! You can't do that, you have to go through alone!" What? Ok - carseat is scanned, baby back into seat, and I walk through alone. When I want to go back and get her, again, "No! You can't do that!" What?!? So - exactly how is my baby, in her car seat, supposed to get through the scanner? Pixie dust in your pockets? So, there I was - me on one side, baby on the other. A TSA was sent over to see what the problem was. LUCKILY, he was struck with the absurdity of the airport personnel's logic and told them to let me get my baby! They protested, said I could have something in her diaper. He asked me. I told him that other than some urine, and possible a bowel movement with all the fuss, no. He was more than welcome to check and change her, if necessary, though. He declined.

After ten years and three children, I was finally dropped from that "red flag list," at least as far as airports were concerned. Overly familiar with the scanning and pat-downs, pulling aside bags to be examined, and the scrutiny of untrusting eyes, I opted to be amused by it instead of annoyed. I thought of packing a brownie, labeled: "For the dear sir or madam who is checking this bag," but opted not to - offering a sweet might land me in the glassed side room with a drug dog!

My last flight, with my fourteen year old daughter, should have caught their eye - red hair, momma of three, armed with a teenager? Now, THAT is scary!

Being this is about airplane travel - what better picture to attach than a sunset with a boat? (Read: she can't find the picture from the airplane window, so added this instead!)