Arriving early at the airport (not unusual), I returned my rental car and proceeded to the security check-in. Unlike Minneapolis, SeaTac only has backscatter x-ray machines now so unless they are out of commission, one has to go through them or request the hand pat down. I opted for the pat down. The security guard seemed very surprised. Are you sure, he asked? Yes. You understand … blah, blah, blah. I said yes. He read me a script he had hanging around his neck. Are you still sure, he asked again. Yes I said. He called for a female agent and I stood off to the side. I inquired about my belongings because they were no longer “with” me but at the end of the x-ray belt now. He told me not to worry.
So — I waited. He asked again if I was sure. Hmmm … I wonder why he kept asking? Again, I said yes. He called a second time for a female agent.
It probably took about 10 minutes for the female agent to arrive but since I was early enough to board an earlier flight so I was not worried about time.
When the female agent arrived, she asked me to get all of my belongings off of the x-ray belt. I went to get them but felt like I didn’t have everything but couldn’t remember what I might have missed and didn’t want to cause alarm so continued back to the agent. She then started reading a script from memory. What? I said after the second line. She repeated it then continued. What? I said after the 4th line. She repeated it. She spoke so softly. I told her I was hard of hearing and she needed to speak up. In spite of that, I had to ask her to repeat herself at least 5 more times.
After reading through her memorized script she asked me if I wanted a private screening. Uh … no. I want the whole world to see me being patted down for no reason (well, I didn’t say that but that’s what I thought). I’ve seen too many people who give TSA a hard time and then get pulled aside for hours.
The female agent explained that she would “feel” my private parts up to resistance. Hmm … I’m glad I came padded for them. Â HAHAHAHAHA Â She also explained that my private parts would only be touched by the backside of her palm and not the palm itself. As if it really mattered …
Actually, it wasn’t too bad. Well, considering I was padded for them. I’m surprised they didn’t say anything but maybe people are normally padded in certain areas.
In gathering my things, I then noticed that I did not have my laptop bag. Oops! I looked back and it was still on the x-ray belt. I grabbed it without anyone saying anything and went my way. So much for their carefulness.
When I made it to the gate, I saw that there was an earlier flight to Minneapolis. Should I try to catch it? Then the thought came to my mind about how some people get on a different flight and the one they should have been on crashes (or the reverse). What a dilemma! Minds sure like to play tricks on people.
Being hungry and not wanting to rush to see if I could get on since this earlier flight was already boarding, I decided to stick with my original flight and feel composed instead of rushed.
I spotted a Seattle’s Best Coffee and had a cocoa with a lemon currant scone. Yum!
I am looking forward to my return to Minnesota. I have a very special person waiting for me on that side.
