We all know the reason for the massive increase in security within the states. We remember 9-11 very well, and it's aftermath. I think there was hardly a country that had no oneinjured, or killed, in that atrocity. We all feel for them, for everyone. It is something, which must never be allowed to happen again. Although the massive world wide effects must be deplored. How on earth does each country keep up with checking for further plans? I expect, just as we are. The police, and security forces, do the best they can, and hope for a bit of luck. We, as the public, must be vigilant, but as they did in the war in England, and plenty of other countries when under attack, must carry on as normal.
Except that, as I say, when you discover you must change planes there, or be refuelled in the USA. Something, anything that commits you to getting off the plane, you groan. Knowing you will be obliged to be caught up in all the craziness that still exists there. Caught up in the checks, dealng with the suspicions, and the hard faced security agents who man the barriers. Along with machines, probably dogs, and whatever else they now employ to clear people through the country. Which I believe now includes a retina scan, and fingerprints.
Oh joy, more stuff about me logged on the net. Isn't it bad enough that every site demands your details, and your age. Where has privacy gone, I hate it. It's getting to be so that I feel like a criminal myself. When in fact all of my life, I have been a law abiding citizen. Why must we all be treated as if guilty? I know, I know, its all selfishness, on my part. That's human nature though isn't it, to bemoan the delays, and rage.. these things cause hassle we can do without.
Even leaving Australia the other week, my bracelets, as they always do, set off the alarms on the body scan doorway. Even though I explained they would, I was treated with some hostility. Unusually, I might add. There was a man there, who was in a foul mood, glaring a me, and scowling. Telegraphing a move towards my wrists, and the bracelets more aggressively than necessary. Saying "won't they come off?". 'No' I thought, 'they don't, or WONT! and don't you touch them' they were given to me by someone special, they have never been off since. "No" I said. Will they want your wedding, and engagement rings off next? The woman working with him, obviously taking the lead from him, her superior presumedly, continued. Making me stand arms out, as she ran the wand all around me. Me, as usual, trying to make contact, joke a bit, keep it light. Got no response, instead, she suggested I might like to go into the private room, to be checked. What! Like you see on those Customs programs, am I up for a body search? "No, I will stay here" I responded."do what you want, there is nothing else to find". Thinking back, I was still responding as an innocent, but they were border line, treating me as a criminal. Of course, unable to find any other indications, they took my shoes briefly, but let me continue. It was unpleasant though. Especially in Australia, normally, so famously relaxed, and polite with the public.
The USA then, loomed rather large. I still wore my bracelets! Why shouldn't I? On exiting the plane in Los Angeles, we were directed though the floor lower, and into the security check. It was the usual, check, faces with passport photo, then though, I was instructed to look up (I was in a wheelchair, due to my health ) that was the retina scan, then obliged to put finger tips together, left hand on the plate, for fingerprints. Me, being me, said " fingerprints?" As I made a mess of putting up the right number of fingers, on the correct hand, as instructed. I do get confused easily sometimes. It think some of it is dyslexia, my mind turns things around, and I have to try to turn it back into something understandable, quickly, without being deemed stupid. Unable to shut up, even in the face of the rather serious man behind the desk. " I have to have my fingerprints taken?" He looked more intently at me, obviously ready for anything "All my life, I have been law abiding, now I have my fingerprints on file?" I said it with a laugh, so he actually responded, with a smile. Yes! I thought jubilantly, I got a smile. As I thought, a very nice looking man, handsome even, wasted on looking serious, and harsh. He continued, holding back my passport, and asking 'have you been here before, out of an airport I mean?' I must have given the right answer, because he let me go on.
As I went into the usual next step. Bag, iPad, and makeup in the trays, shoes off, had to stand, which I could do today. Asked to move through a different sort of door, arms, as in the diagram, a certain shape above my head. Alarms did not go off as usual, I tried to explain about the bracelets, but with a smile, the very 'tooled up' woman, said 'it's OK, don't worry' as if she already knew exactly what I wore, perhaps even what my bones looked like. Who knows? It was then, as a I stepped away from there, or in my case, was wheeled away, I had a sudden panic. There was a banana in my bag, and I could see the dogs circling ahead. Argg I thought, is this a big instant fine coming up. I had forgotten to take the fruit out, to leave on the plane.
Grabbing it out of the bag, I handed it to the airport man, pushing my chair, " can you get rid of this in the bins" I said. He took it, and walked off, but no bins. Soon, it was back with me, like a hot cake in my hand, the dogs getting closer. I panicked now, just when I thought I was safe. Was i to be fined hundreds of pounds, I don't have? " Let me ask that woman" I said. Wishing I could bound out of the chair, and sort this out. Waving the banana, we approached a uniformed woman, me babbling. "I forgot to leave this on the plane" I said. "Where can I leave it". Smiling, she said,"well, not here, or you will be in trouble, go through with it to the customs".
Around the corner, sat a man at a desk, with another man near a conveyer belt. I waved the banana, speaking before I got close enough, trying to explain. The man took it, wrapped it in a paper napkin, telling me to take to the man near the conveyer. "is this the dog catch ?" The conveyor man said. "No" both the man, and I said together. "No, I forgot to leave it on the plane" I said again. Becoming anxious, as I saw an crisp apple sitting on another napkin, near him. That must be he dog catch! The apple looking fresh, and nice, unlike my now, quite black, and soft banana. "OK" he said, looking hard at me. "Just go on...."
Whew, lucky or what... I can go. No fine, no further anything. Good, we can go......."GO" I told the man pushing me, rather harshly. So, off we went. Back up to the upper floor, and the new check in for the next part of the flight. The departure lounges were all busy, the usual outlets you expect to see. Starbucks, a pizza place, and some sort of country kitchen. Everyone I spoke to was friendly, laid back, and nice. , just as I remember when last there, in Tennessee.
Yep, America is good. I had a nice smile, and helpful people all around. The only thing I worried about was that the man who pushed me around in the wheelchair, was about half as big as he should have been. I must say, I felt very sorry for him. I am, as they say, a well built girl. ha ha
VIVA the USA......let's have mor handsome men on duty, and someone, for goodness sake, tell them to smile.....
They might run into me, and no one knows what I might say next...
No comments:
Post a Comment