The New Age of Travel or Tale of the Ginger Cookie Terrorist
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Travel isn't what it used to be. The former glamorous days of flying the friendly skies have tarnished to nickel and dimed sardine cans with draconian security measures. I can't change that so I decided to change my approach. How to navigate six airports in two countries in under two weeks and retain my sanity? In one word: Intention. I made a conscious intention to stay aware, notice unexpected beauty, surrender to flow and breathe in humor at all times. Not only did everything work out (yes, I'm back at my own desk), but even delays and miscommunication reaped rewards or at least fodder for future novels.
Whenever possible, I prefer traveling from my small local airport in Westchester County.
It's a breeze checking in and the one waiting room borders on cozy. A quick removal of boots, scarf, jewelry and zip through the metal detector. Security done. Things got more interesting before a flight from Detroit to Toronto. I was tired but blissed out from an intense retreat with my guru Amma Amma.org in Dearborn Michigan and nonplussed when selected at random to go through the new security scanner. I stood with feet apart, arms raised above my head, sucked in my tummy and held my breath. The latter two actions were my choice. Silently chanting my mantra was preferable to thinking about someone looking at my naked body. It felt like five seconds instead of the actual thirty seconds. After an intimate pat down around my breasts, I was motioned to step aside by another officer. His eyes glinted like a sniffer dog who'd caught a whiff of contraband.
"The scanner has detected explosives on your hands. We have to do another test." Explosives? I'm rarely speechless but this time I mutely followed him to another area where he sprayed something on my hands and waved them in front of another scanner. He said disappointed, "You're clear," shooing me away.
I glanced down at my hot little hands and lit up with an aha moment. My friend had given me a ginger cookie prior to the scanning and I must have had traces of cookie crumbs on my hands. We had a good laugh and the ginger cookie terrorist boarded the Air Canada plane.
Travel isn't what it used to be. The former glamorous days of flying the friendly skies have tarnished to nickel and dimed sardine cans with draconian security measures. I can't change that so I decided to change my approach. How to navigate six airports in two countries in under two weeks and retain my sanity? In one word: Intention. I made a conscious intention to stay aware, notice unexpected beauty, surrender to flow and breathe in humor at all times. Not only did everything work out (yes, I'm back at my own desk), but even delays and miscommunication reaped rewards or at least fodder for future novels.
Whenever possible, I prefer traveling from my small local airport in Westchester County.
It's a breeze checking in and the one waiting room borders on cozy. A quick removal of boots, scarf, jewelry and zip through the metal detector. Security done. Things got more interesting before a flight from Detroit to Toronto. I was tired but blissed out from an intense retreat with my guru Amma Amma.org in Dearborn Michigan and nonplussed when selected at random to go through the new security scanner. I stood with feet apart, arms raised above my head, sucked in my tummy and held my breath. The latter two actions were my choice. Silently chanting my mantra was preferable to thinking about someone looking at my naked body. It felt like five seconds instead of the actual thirty seconds. After an intimate pat down around my breasts, I was motioned to step aside by another officer. His eyes glinted like a sniffer dog who'd caught a whiff of contraband.
"The scanner has detected explosives on your hands. We have to do another test." Explosives? I'm rarely speechless but this time I mutely followed him to another area where he sprayed something on my hands and waved them in front of another scanner. He said disappointed, "You're clear," shooing me away.
I glanced down at my hot little hands and lit up with an aha moment. My friend had given me a ginger cookie prior to the scanning and I must have had traces of cookie crumbs on my hands. We had a good laugh and the ginger cookie terrorist boarded the Air Canada plane.
Posted by Layla Morgan Wilde at 12/9/2010 1:34 PM 
Categories: Spirituality, Photography, New York, Westchester County, Holiday, Humor, Technology, Travel
Tags: airport scanners Ammaorg westchester county airport new age of travel
Categories: Spirituality, Photography, New York, Westchester County, Holiday, Humor, Technology, Travel
Tags: airport scanners Ammaorg westchester county airport new age of travel
Well that sounds like a very scary moment and I sure would have done nothing but wet myself and then been in more trouble. That flying stuff is way to scary for me. I love staying home. LOL
Glad you are back safe and sound.
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It was more amusing than scary but I'm glad to be home
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Welcome home! I hope you had a wonderful time.
I for one am glad to know that America' skies were safer because TSA noticed your cookie crumb covered hands.
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Ingrid, I had an amazing time and yes, better to be safe than sorry.
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Yes, the best thing is to take it all in stride and with good humor...and never travel by plane again.
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Time for a private plane.
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No traveling for me! I get manhandled enough at the vet's office, thank-you-very-much!
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Manhandled could be a good thing
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I laughed and laughed at todays posting. With a piece of titanium for a shoulder I am privileged to be intimately patted down each time I fly. It has always been manhandled.. I wish it was a womanhandled. It would make security much more interesting.
I look forward to seeing some of the photos on future postings. AND YES Westchester Airport is a wonderful place to fly from and too. I wish the baggage handles moved just a bit faster when flying to HPN.
Welcome home..
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Thank-you, good to be home!
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Hi, you cookie terrorist, you! Your story is a scream. Thanks for a great laugh, which I needed!
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Glad to oblige. T'is the season...
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Glad you triumphed over the rigors of air travel. We learned to fly into Stewart AFB airport when visiting my in-laws in NY. Very low-key and easy, unlike our end at Orlando. I always get the pat down due to my bionic shoulder. Dread the scanner. What a laugh they will get over my lumps and bumps and extra parts. tee hee!
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