The Joys of Traveling

I’ve been traveling a lot lately. From last October through this month, I’ve jumped to Premier status on United and US Air in a matter of weeks. I’ve also met a lot of interesting people, seen how obesity has caused health issues and  experienced how much the TSA differs from airport-to-airport.

 You may have read recently the list of most interesting “catches” in 2011 by the TSA. If you didn’t, dietary supplements didn’t make the top 10. The top three items were: 1) chunks of C4 explosives found in Yuma, AZ; 2) a loaded .380 pistol in Detroit; and, 3) more than 1,200 firearms discovered nationwide. There was also a man who tried to stuff seven snakes and three turtles in pants before boarding an international flight at the Miami Airport. Knives, a flare gun, a stun gun (disguised as a smartphone), landmines, a martial art weapon and a student’s science project that looked like an explosive device.

 I had a few items confiscated too. As I bring my own healthy food on a plane, I brought a small container of Fage yogurt, some cooked oatmeal and a small container of peanut butter from Whole Foods. All confiscated. Why? The x-ray machine can’t see through those items. Who knows what dangerous item I may have put in those containers. But while those foods were taken from me at Fresno, whose airport code by the way is FAT, another location could have determined a different outcome.

 At the Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale, FL, airport, my veggie burrito got pulled aside and checked out carefully. And on another visit to that same airport my tempeh sandwich was subject to review as if it was a foreign substance. But I survived losing my airplane meals.

 I feel so bad for those overweight people who huff and puff as they get on the plane, or struggle to get from Gate A to Gate B at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. Fortunately none of these  people sat next to me and crowded my space. I did have a seat mate that snored. And that can be dangerous too.

 The interesting people list included a body building competitor; Hannah Storm, the ESPN sports reporter; and a woman who claimed her brother was the retired president of the Foot Locker.

 I wonder what I will experience or whom I will meet next. My travels continue this month. I think I’ll take a Tofurky sandwich when I fly later this week.