Flying
Posted on April 30th, 2008 by Jackie Danicki
Away from the sun
Originally uploaded by dynamist.
I’ll be in Cincinnati very early Thursday morning. Until then, I’m in the sky or in stupid “security” lines.
Filed under: Life
I watched a three-year-old take off her shoes in the security line the other day.
And did I ever tell you the story of when security cleared the entire tarmac at the dinky airport in Martha’s Vineyard because I kissed my then-ten-year-old, who was about to board a tiny plane on her way to summer camp, through the cyclone fence? A fence on which there was no signage whatsoever about not having contact with those on the other side? They made everyone go back inside, and then kept my daughter, alone, while they searched her. I was livid, and ripped into the airline guy and said, wtf? His response: I could have been passing her weaponry. I said, “You think I’m passing plastic explosive by mouth to my ten-year-old in order that she can blow up a commuter plane to Boston? Then put up a fucking sign!” Listen, I’ve been going to that airport since I was six years old; people have always kissed hello and goodbye. Anyway, they finally bring my shaking, tear-stained daughter out; the other people on the flight — who’ve of course had to wait — are incredibly kind to her, which is good, because I am not allowed any contact; a woman puts her arm around Tafv and, I later learn, from Tafv, that everyone on board was so nice, as were the pilots; they let her sit up front and, while the other passengers (about 12 in all) talked about how assinine the whole thing was. Did I write letters? I did, and got a profusely apologetic one from the MV airport people. US Airways? No; they stand by their fabulously brilliant security policy. Fuck them.
Oh, and has the airport put up a sign? No. This was 8 years ago.