TSA - "I'm Carrying Human Remains"

There is no getting around the fact that travel is no longer fun. Gone are the days of making a last minute decision to go somewhere, dropping everything and jumping on a plane just because we could. 

I'm thankful that our travel privileges came during a time when it was easy and fun to use them. Rarely did we have  trouble getting seats. In fact, we had friends who used to hop on an airplane just to eat lunch in flight and then turn around and enjoy dinner on the return trip home. We never loved airline food that much, but it was nice to have meals and not just a bag of air and three pretzels.

Those were also the days when  we could come and go in airports easily to meet people at the gate, or just hang out. Some of the best food and shopping in Pittsburgh, PA was in the airside terminal.

But times have changed. Mask mandates accompanied by dire warnings for not complying or wearing them incorrectly, abbreviated flight schedules, overcrowded airplanes, getting through security, and mask mandates. Did I already mention that?

TSA is often one of the first agencies encountered when flying and, depending on the airport, are responsible for adding one more layer to the challenges faced during air travel. Some of the most cheerful people in the airport, and some of the most miserable we've encountered have been TSA agents and the general public doesn't hesitate to criticize these folks.

TSA is a federal agency. So one would think that they would be uniform in the way they function from airport to airport but that's not the case. Because of that, people never know what to expect. The list of travel requirements is long and you never know which ones will be enforced. We call it TSA roulette.

But I recently had an experience with TSA that I didn't expect and polite interaction always deserves a pat on the back.

A phrase I never would have imagined having to utter was "I'm carrying human remains." And the first time I said it was to a TSA agent in the Greenville Spartanburg airport in South Carolina.

My mom had ended her earthly journey in October of 2020 and because of COVID, a move, and our retirement, ended up spending a year and a half in a quiet closet in our home.

But the time had come to take her back out west to join my dad at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside CA. 

We placed dad here in 2004. I've really missed him

Mom always hated travel. Cars were difficult, but air travel was especially bad. 

This trip was pretty peaceful.

We did our homework with the airlines and read up on what to expect while travelling with her, but there was a lot of conflicting information as to how to make it all come together.

So I arrived at the airport early in the morning, still having no idea what would be required of me. I stepped up to the podium, showed my ID and boarding pass and uttered those words, "I'm carrying human remains."

The first agent politely pointed me to another agent who walked me through sending this unassuming little box through X-Ray. But before doing so, they placed the box in it's own bin sitting on a velvet cushion and held in place there by a velvet tie.

The bin was sent through on it's own with no other articles and then respectfully set aside. While still sitting on the velvet cushion, the box was tested for explosive and drug residue, which I fully expected, and the agent performing the tests was careful to keep me informed as to what he was doing. When he was finished, he carefully handed back my moms remains. 

To say I was shocked was putting it lightly. I never would have expected such a show of respect for her and for me in the way they treated this little cardboard box. 

I was reminded that these folks who work for TSA are just ordinary people. Not always polite, but working with the travelling public, I can't say I blame them for a little impatience.

There was obviously a system in place for travelers like me and they performed their tasks admirably.

Travel still isn't fun, but those folks did their jobs well. Thank you, TSA, for doing what you do. And for stepping up for me when it counted most. 

 

Big Bear means we're almost home.

For He will give His angels

orders concerning you, 

To protect you in all your ways.

Psalm 91:11

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