Tip O' The Hat, Wag O' The Finger

I stole the title. Sue me. I could think of no better title to begin the spelunking into today's topic though since I'm thoroughly impressed with one party and thoroughly disappointed with another.

Got your harness on?

Then let's delve:

Tip O The Hat goes to airport security at the Albeguerque airport. Mucho kudos go to you kind people. Not only was the baggage handler a little rough with my suitcase (I don't mind when they get a little rough, makes for good guitar scars), but the security lady called me by my first name, which I returned by calling her by her first name (good job on security, Amanda!) and the whole airport was filled with able staff who were kind and focused.

But the best part was the lady whose name I did not get who was coralling the elderly through the metal detector. She was so patient that it blew my mind.

Here's the scenario: I'm in line, shoes off, everything in my tub EXCEPT my boarding pass and ID. Why, you ask? Because every thirty second someone screams it at the top of their lungs that you need to send everything through EXCEPT your boarding pass and your ID.

Now, I don't know how I managed it, but I ended up in a line that was filled exclusively with the elderly and I got to watch them work.

"What do you mean "where's my boarding pass?""

The next guy:

"I need WHAT now?"

"Here's my boarding pass. What else do I need?"

Jeez. Like pulling teeth.

There was even one instance where a guy walked through the metal detector and the lady behind him must have thought if she didn't follow immediately that he might disappear into a suddenly-opening abyss and she'll never see this particular stranger (and they did not know eachother as evidenced by their loud back and forth) again which apparently struck her as tragic. She rushed into the detector as if their future relationship depended on it and as a result, the guy had to go back through but not before telling the woman to NOT follow him through until the lady gives her the go-ahead.

To the Albaquerque Airport personnel: a tip o' the hat.

Guess who gets the wag o' the finger?

You know it:

Non military travelers.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't draw too much of a line between the military and civilian HOWEVER, traveling is a strong point for us and you'll never see a person more prepared for a flight than military (aircrew especially). Not one set off the metal detector and no one had to wait for us. Everything that we put in the bin to send through the X-ray was put back into our pockets with alarming speed and we were off like a bullet to our gate (where we could sit around for a few hours looking for a clock on the wall).

So civilians, I say this: the airport is a thing that demands a little thought to be as productive and efficient as possible. This includes: letting the row in front of you get off board before you, not only because it's good manners but because you know once everyone in front of you is off the pane you won't have to stop in the middle of your walk to let someone out. Your bags should be marked VERY WELL so as not to inspire confusion because everyone has the same looking black softshell suitcase.

Moving sidewalks don't mean stop moving yourself.

In your pockets bring only what you absolutely need, a wallet for ID, some cash and your boarding pass.

In your backpack (and I think everyone should bring a backpack instead of the usual "I swear it's not a full-sized suitcase" carry on bag), you should bring only what you need to get through the flight including any electronics that you will use, a book, a sweater and any medication you might need. You will not need your huge winter coat, you will not need fifteen changes of clothes. Believe it or not, all that stuff can be packed in your checked luggage (which I'm not even going to go into for packing except to say this: huge ziploc bags are your FRIEND when packing a big bag).

Now, on a lighter note, I've been gone for about a week and have not been able to get to a computer since my laptop's dead (Apple, if you're looking for someone to sponsor I need only a laptop with a DVD burner in it) and because of this, I have not been able to blog.

I missed it.

But I have been gathering topics to spew forth to you, the reader, who will hopefully enjoy the results.

So check back tomorrow when I'll put up another hopefully great blog about something that caught my attention on my trip.

Until then!