How to Care for Your Hairless Rat: travel

Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

2022-04-21

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

Other Projects

2017-09-15

Journeys in an Orange Jacket and Other Lessons

Several years ago, I purchased a jacket to make a trek to the Pacific Northwest. We've traveled a lot over the years, thanks to my handsome half, so I knew the jacket would get a lot of use. What I didn't anticipate were all the lessons I'd learn along the way. I'm sure you've read all kinds of travel primers, that are polished and informative, but maybe you haven't really considered the bottom of the barrel basics.

So, because you obviously have nothing better to do, here's my list of basics.

Packing

We raised fairly self sufficient children, and one of the earliest lessons they learned about travel is to travel light. "If you bring it, you carry it. If you can't carry it, don't pack it." They learned the value of such preparation when they began traveling with school groups and girls that brought monster suitcases they had no hope of carrying, so expected the boys to be their pack mules. No bueno. NO one wants to carry your junk, NO one wants to help you load that beast in an overhead compartment, and most airlines prohibit their flight crews from helping because of injuries.

A sub lesson to this one is already well known. Only bring half of what you think you'll need. Trust me on this one. If you're desperate and you didn't bring it, go to the store. That's why God created them.

Last but not least, take clothes that are flexible. My jacket also serves as a belt.

Security

Not all travel involves security, obviously, but often, even if you're traveling by car, you'll run into border crossings that call for patience. And though borders and TSA are supposed to be uniform in the way they function, they aren't. Trust me, you never know from airport to airport, border to border, what will be required of you. It's always going to be different. Be patient. These people really aren't "trying" to be difficult, some are just that way naturally. And the least you can do is not add to it. They can make your life extremely difficult.

Restrooms

So. Just a few basic things. Obey the signs, people. I had a friend laugh uproariously at this one, but we've seen a bunch of shoe prints on potty seats over the years and these signs are necessary. The basic ones that anyone can decipher:

And the more complicated ones obviously designed for English speakers:

Pay attention, people. Sometimes those babies rock a little and no one want's you falling off that porcelain tower and breaking something. NO rescue squad wants that duty!

Public restrooms are bad enough, so please show a little courtesy:

Leave a tail. It makes it so much easier for the person following you.

And for heavens sake, people, WASH YOUR HANDS!!!

Traveling "companions"

These folks are often surprising. You never know who you'll end up with in the seat next to you, in line in front of you, or waiting too closely behind you and literally breathing down your neck. The definition of "personal space" is different from place to place, and most cultures don't respect the arms length unwritten rule. Do your best with this one. Take a deep breath.

Signs

Believe it or not, signs, whether they're for warning or restricting, are there for everyone. If you're supposed to remain in a certain area, stay in that area, if you're supposed to stay on the trail, Stay. On. The. Trail. On recent hiking trips in National Parks, I was shocked to see the people tromping off into restricted areas so they could get a better selfie. Really people? I'll admit. I wanted to slap them.

Be flexible

You'd think this would go without saying, but I've seen the melt downs. "My trip was SUPPOSED to go this way or that." Yeah, well, welcome to travel. Even in a private jet, sometimes things don't go the way you planned. Life is unpredictable. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. I know as well as anyone the frustration of being left at the gate or getting caught in traffic snarls, and mix ups in the various stages of getting around. But temper tantrums won't change things.

We've found the most amazing things because of kinks in our travel plans. Beautiful things we may not have seen otherwise. Sweet times with our kids spent in airports because for one reason or another, we couldn't take the flight we planned. Even traffic jams have been quite entertaining if approached with the right attitude.

While it may be hard in the moment when you're trying to fully grasp the challenges that have been placed in your path, try to take a step back, take a deep breath and remember that raising your blood pressure won't change what you might be facing. And people will be much more helpful if you're more pleasant.

Bottom line, travel.......... any kind of travel is an amazing privilege that many don't have the opportunity to experience. What do you want to remember about your journey? I choose sweet memories created by the challenges.

My jacket has a lot of miles on it. It's not in style anymore, I'm sure, but given enough time, it'll come back. For now it's still more than serviceable. I look forward to the journeys yet to come.

For He will command His angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Ps. 91:11-12

Other projects
Resurrection Upcycle

2017-05-13

Traveling

Because of my husbands job, we've had lots of opportunities to travel over the years. Our children grew up just assuming everyone could walk into the airport, get on an airplane and go somewhere at a moments notice. Chicago for lunch anyone? Just because. The youngest illustrated their view of life quite simply one time while sitting in the car on a rather long drive. We had gone to a state park about two hours from our home for an outdoor adventure. About an hour into the trek, she sighed heavily and remarked, "why didn't we fly?" A simple question. And I had to agree. Anyplace that took more than an hour to get to definitely called for air travel!! Flying wasn't daddy's job, it was just what he did. The same child also claimed that "My daddy doesn't work. He flies."

Our children learned early on how to prepare for travel, and to do so quickly. No packing a week ahead of time. We never had that kind of notice. They also learned the principal:

"If you pack it, you carry it. If you can't carry it, you don't take it."

"Parent" was not synonymous with "pack mule" in our family. They didn't realize what a burden we placed on them until high school when the class trips began and other girls showed up with ENORMOUS suitcases that they had no hope of carrying, and just assumed the boys would do the load bearing for them. I was there to see the shocked looks on their faces, complete with eye rolling. So we raised some attitude problems. Oh well.

But even with our packing savvy, we've still never accomplished what I can only dream about. Handsome and I were preparing for a trip recently, and I was struck with two things. First of all men can get away with very little. They don't even have to take a razor if they don't want to. They can roll out of bed, throw on a semi clean pair of shorts and tshirt, and a baseball cap and look fine. I envy men for that. I'm not a natural beauty, and now that age has entered the equation, it takes a bit more "paint on the barn" to look presentable. If I rolled out of bed and donned the same ensemble as men can pull together, I'd scare small children and embarrass my family. That means I take longer to pull myself together, and I pack more. Not more than I can carry, mind you!

But I've always wanted to be like my dad when it came to travel preparation. I think he was a wannabe truck driver. He loved the sound that just the right tires made on the pavement. Used to say they "sang". The open road intrigued him and he took great pride in tying the canvas water bag onto the front grille of the car in just the right way.

I don't remember ever drinking from one of these, but I DO remember him pouring water from it over the car radiator cap. We actually traveled through Death Valley more than once with a couple of these tied up front.

Dad talked about "Brownies", and double clutching, and other trucking things. He had an International Harvester pick up at one time and taught me to drive a stick in it. It was quite the man truck. Interesting that he always said he didn't care to travel. But I think he actually meant that he didn't like the kind of travel mom aspired to. She had a little more extravagant taste. Dad was happy camping. He was a simple guy that always wore work boots, blue jeans, a plaid western cut shirt with the pearly snap buttons and short sleeves, and a trucker cap. Always the trucker cap. You know the kind that are plastic mesh in the back and some kind of stiff foam in the front with a logo or slogan? "I'm spending my children's inheritance" or "D**n seagulls!!" complete with a very realistic looking bird dropping on the bill. That was actually my personal favorite. But I digress.....

What really intrigued me about dad when we traveled was the way he packed. It took him a grand total of 5 seconds to shove a pair of clean skivvies in his jeans pocket and he was packed and ready for the road. Needless to say, it drove............. my mom.............. crazy. I can still hear her saying "NOOOooooORRMM!! She was able to turn a single syllable name into three and voice her displeasure in considerably less than the amount of time it took dad to pack!

I've had to resign myself to never being able to walk out the door without even a purse in hand to go on an adventure. I'll always have to carry a bag of some type with more than one clean pair of skivvies. But I'll always envy my dad's simple approach to travel. As long as I don't have to carry my gutchies in my pocket!

Hundreds of thousands of miles on these bags

You who ride on white donkeys,

You who sit on rich carpets,

And you who travel on the road-----

Sing!

Judges 5:10

My Other Projects

2015-03-10

Go West, Bob

My name is Bob. I live in Cleveland. And this is my story.

My mom lives in this harsh and barren place by choice. Can you believe it??! But that doesn't mean I have to stay!! Thankfully, there are people that care enough to liberate me from winters trap to take me someplace I can thaw.

I attended a conference with my mom, Sue, before leaving home for warmer climes.

This is Kimm Carr, the Executive Director of Community Bible Study. I sat attentively and quietly while she spoke and learned so much. I think I'd like to be a leader when I grow up, though public speaking might be a problem. Reaching the mike is a challenge!

I'll be a much better Bob thanks to my time spent in CBS!

This is my liberator, Mama J, introducing me to Young Chase, the National Director, Childrens Ministry in CBS. We got to ride in the car for a few hours together. I'll always like Young.