Saturday, February 21, 2009

Going Through the Insecurity Line at the Airport

I stood in the long line at airport security, awaiting my turn to apologize to all of the people lining up behind me for taking so long to undress, take off my coat,belt,jewelry, shoes; and deposit my cell phone in the bin. I crossed my fingers as I walked gingerly through the rigged doorway, praying that the obnoxious buzzer would not go off.
As I sauntered closer to undress, I was acutely aware for the first time in my life how much our past insecurities come into play in the short time we are standing in line, waiting to see if we pass the test.
I watched in amusement as the gentleman ahead of me grunted and started to sweat as he fumbled with his belt. Next came his shoes, watch; and then his phone came out of his pocket; and his computer was placed in a bin.
I laughed as I commented to this anxious man about how our past comes into play as we try to hurry through the process. I removed my shoes, and in my head I could almost hear one of my brother's saying, "Hurry up! You are slower than molasses!"
I tripped over the hem of my pants and got my shoes deposited in Bin #1. Whew!
"Come on, Sandy! If you don't hurry we are all going to be late for school. It will be all your fault!"
Then, as if in slow motion I remove my jacket, take my phone out of my pocket and retrieve my laptop out of my carry-on; where it has wedged itself haphazardly in the bag and fights with me for control. Bin #2.

I lay the carry-on bag on the moving belt when I hear a gruff voice tell me to put the bag on the belt lenghthwise. "Okay Mother, I am trying my best!"
My purse gets set down on the belt as I watch my personal belongings disappear into the MRI-looking machine, and I pray that all of my treasures come out at the other end intact and accounted for.
As I get through the magic door that tells the world - with a sound so loud that I am sure that the death penalty must be punishment for whatever I forgot to remove -whether I might be a terrorist or not. I start to gather all of my belongings as the person behind me makes me feel like I am the only one who has ever taken THIS long to get through Security.
I am a grown woman. I have traveled all over the world. I can teach - and talk - in front of thousands of people. And yet I get in that security line at the airport; and every time I do I feel like an adolescent that is not capable of doing anything right.
Just a Security check? Oh no! It is so much more than that! It is a check on all of the hidden insecuirites from the past - when we didn't move fast enough,forgot to do exactly as we were told or felt like we had to apologize for, well, everything.
Security? I think there should be a blinking, neon sign that beckons us to get into the 'Insecurity' line. I'd be first in line, no cuts.

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