The book signing yesterday went well and I sold about a dozen books. The staff was great, the customers were nice, and I got to visit with my parents! So it was a successful trip all round.
Now I’m in the airport, getting ready to board a flight for Orlando. My sister has a conference at Disney World, and I’m going along for the ride. The thought is that I’ll write during the day while she’s at the conference, then I’ll go out with her to the parks in the evening and have fun.
I’m in the middle of my trek to Orlando (connecting flight thing.) This morning was the first time I’d flown since 2000. There’s been no need to fly before now—Charlotte is 3 hours from the beach, 2 hours from the mountains, and our family is all within easy driving distance.
Of course I’d read about all the airline changes. It’s very different flying in a post-9/11 world. I used to take my son to the airport when he was a toddler and he’d be fascinated watching the planes take off and land. I’d bring a book to read and we’d happily kill a couple of hours at the airport and then drive back home. No flight, just a free toddler-entertainment activity.
So this morning I had no idea what I was doing. The security people were smiling a whole lot at me—but not, I think, in a nice way. I’d done the taking off of the shoe thing, and I took off my watch and a metal necklace I had on. Then I put my bags on the conveyer belt.
“Ma’am. We’ve got to take your laptop out, put it in a separate tub, and run it back through again.”
“Oh, okay. Of course. Whatever we need to do.” I start tugging on my laptop.
“Ma’am! Do not touch your laptop! You’re not allowed to touch your laptop.”
“Oh. Okay. You were saying ‘we’ but you meant ‘I’.” I’m not trying to be a smarty pants, I’m just trying to explain why I was violating their security protocol. I didn’t want to be detained or anything. He had a pronoun usage problem.
Harsh look from the security man. He pulls out my laptop and runs it through.
Finally I get to my gate. An elderly lady and I start talking to each other. She needs to go to get something to eat and asks me to watch her bags…I must look trustworthy. So I watch her bags….then stern announcement comes on about not watching other people’s bags. I’m in trouble again.
I get on the plane and open up my laptop. NO! Bad Elizabeth! No computers during take-off.
I’m looking forward now to getting on this flight to Orlando and making the final leg of my journey there. And writing. I think that will help calm me down.
And on the way back home….well, now I know the ropes.
It’s a whole new world now, isn’t it? Happy writing!
karen
I fly a lot and it’s very rare for the security people to take the laptop out for you. Almost always security wants you to take it out yourself.
Haha! That’s awesome!
Yeah, I’ve never known security to remove an item like that for you. That’s a bit odd. Hope you have a great trip!
I have never flown, but really want to….money and lack of opportunity…reasons. But everytime I try something new, it turns into a fiasco. But my feeling on this is, without these glitches my imagination would have to work harder in regard to writing. My life, or my actions thereof, are a comedy act in progress. I have lots of inspiration.
I haven’t flown since 9/11 either. It shall be an interesting experience. My plan is to read all the lists explaining what you can’t pack, get to the airport early and bring an extra bag of patience. Have fun in Orlando, the town that The Mouse built. All hail The Mouse!
Elspeth
Look at it this way, Elizabeth..at least you didn’t get the full-body cavity search! So you must look trustworthy!
I flew a couple of years ago to Kentucky, and at the Dallas airport, they made me put my cane through. Now I can’t walk but a few steps without it, but they took it anyway. Potential weapon, I guess.
I’m so glad the book signing went well!
I don’t fly much either, but I flew last year to attend a conference for work. I followed all of the online guidelines, but no one ever mentioned id. It never occurred to me to bring my passport – I wasn’t leaving the country. I’d brought a debit and credit card, but only threw my driver’s license in at the last minute. Thankfully. Didn’t think I’d have to prove who I was. They weren’t happy with me, but finally let me go. Next time, I’ll know! Or, it might be so far in the future, I’ll have forgotten by then :)
Enjoy Disney!
Karen–Definitely a new world! Thanks.
Gink–Is it unusual? I wonder why they did that, then. Hmm. And TSA was there, doing random inspections (didn’t pick me, though.) I figured they’d want me to pull the darned thing out of the laptop bag, but they were *not* happy with me for trying to do it.
Kristen–Thanks! :)
Journaling Woman–Well, it’s true. I’m in Orlando now (waiting for my sister’s flight to land) and the flight here was very interesting. There was a couple loudly making out a couple of rows up. There was a man who was determined to use the 1st class restroom instead of the coach restroom (I was in coach, and it was entertaining watching the flight attendant trying to block him.) Lots of inspiration to be had!
Ha ha! I love your description of your security escapades.
I travel a lot and pretty much know the ropes. The one time I messed up was when I was going to Disney World (serendipity!) with my granddaughter, who had just turned four at the time. She was so adorable with her little Disney Princess suitcase that I couldn’t stop gazing at her and completely lost sight of all the bureaucratic processes I was holding up. I loved watching her make her way toward the security scan (I was thinking, she’s getting so big!!) until the security guy yelled at me to “just pick her up and walk through!” Then I had forgotten to take her toiletry bag with its teeny bottles out of her suitcase, even though I had taken MINE out. So we got called over to the special table of doom and her entire suitcase was searched. I’m sure it looked as dangerous as Sharon’s cane! That said, I do appreciate the security in general…
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Elspeth–It’s interesting, all right! I was all prepared for the shoe thing. And I was careful to put my contact lens solution in an itty bitty bottle. But my laptop keeps making people mad at me.
Sharon–I was a little worried about the TSA people at the Charlotte airport. They announced they were conducting random inspections and that you should “comply with their wishes.” Hmph. Fortunately, I just smiled and looked clueless (which, right now, I am) and they waved me through to board the plane.
Maybe they thought you were James Bond and had a special gun crammed in your cane?
Jemi–I was surprised, too! Fortunately I always have my driver’s license on me–for what reason, I don’t know. I’m not even driving on this trip—just doing shuttles and I’m staying at the resort. I suppose I thought someone might card me for wine. (they wouldn’t have). But I *did* have ID and was able to prove I was me.
Glad your book siging went so well! Sorry your airport experience was a bit frustrating! I’ve been spoken to very rudely for not understanding what they told me the first time. It is a different world! Looking forward to reading more experiences of booksigings, and looking forward to some of my own in a few weeks, I hope.
Oooh yeah – know whatcha mean. I hadn’t flow in a while after 911 when I booked a flight about 3 years ago. The level of security had shot up a quantum leap.
Hey great job and congrats on the book signing – 12 books is a FINE sale – plus the relationships you build.
Marvin D Wilson
Marvin–Thanks!
I feel a little odd now because I’m waiting in baggage claims for my sister’s flight to come in and to meet up with her. Apparently, baggage claim is not a place where people hang out with their laptops. I’m getting some odd looks. Sigh.
*sending hugs and humor karma*
Elizabeth, I fly with some regularity–my family is all in Oregon and Idaho and i live in Michigan, plus I usually go to at least one business conference a year, and in a given year, they can change the rules 3 times. so DON’T worry! Some of the rules are just silly–before EVERYONE had to take shoes off, and to avoid profiling (which I support), it was every 3rd bag across the security belt or something and they fully searched the bag and person. I’m sure you can imagine my look of disbelief when they had to fully search my 4 year old son. *rolls eyes*
I think your best bet is totally honesty–“this is my first trip in 10 years and I have no clue what I’m doing”. They will probably be really nice (though people will try to avoid lining up behind you)
Congratualtions on your book signing – sounds as though yur events have been going well for you :D
Enjoy Orlando. I love Disney but it has gotten so expensive!
Happy writing!!!
Nancy, from Realms of Thought…
Hart–You’re making me feel better! I really felt so dumb the entire time I was traveling. I’ll be honest with them on the way back home on Wednesday and see if they give me a break. Good tip.
Elizabeth–Maybe the princess looked dangerous? I didn’t get much of a search at Disney. Although at the airport…
Warren–I get confused easily when it’s a red tape matter. Actually, I think I’m easily confused, period. I spend too much time in my imaginary worlds!
Nancy–You’re right about the $! But I’m saving money…no kids with me!
I’ve flown more post 9/11 than I did pre. Security can be funny. For example, I’m wearing flip flops. Security still wants me to remove my shoes. Are you kidding? How dangerous can flip flops and pedicured toes be?
Tara—Isn’t that ridiculous? I don’t understand. I tried to cooperate, but I’m sure my face must have looked completely perplexed.