Security Threats

I fly a lot. 

I tend to fly somewhere at least once a month, but often more. 

I am an expert traveller.

But this past flight, I experienced two security threats that I've never experienced before.

First, as I was walking to the security line, I saw a guy in khaki pants and a blue button-down shirt taking pictures of an ATM machine, and the newspaper dispensers next to it.  He picked up a container of cleaners and turned around, but did not leave.  I thought that this was very suspicious.  So I told the TSA/ICE worker who stands at the exiting end of security (the side where the travellers exit to get their bags).  He looked out the door, then said, "Well, he's got cleaning supplies so he's probably from the bank." 

Um, have you ever watched a movie about spies?  Espionage?  Any of the Ocean's 11 series?  A *classic* disguise is to look like a worker!  No one pays attention to blue collar workers! 

Sigh.  I did what I could do, so I got in line.

But the line was long.  Incredibly long.  In this small airport that I often fly out of, it was inordinately long.  As I stood in line, it got closer and closer to boarding time.  Then it was boarding time, but I was about four or five people from the TSA agent who checks your ID and ticket.  I was so close! 

I finally was putting all my stuff through the machine, and having no problems.  Fifteen minutes until the plane takes off!  I grab everything and wait for my shoes to come out.  As I see them sliding closer, I hear a TSA agent yell, "Omega Alpha!"  Then all of the agents repeat it; "Omega Alpha!"  And the agent by the x-ray machine asks us to step away from it.  I have 15 minutes!  I can see my shoes!  Other agents have locked down the security area, so I just have to wait.  After a few minutes, an agent yells, "All clear!"  All of the other agents repeat "All clear!"  The agent near my gets my shoes out of tunnel, and I walk directly to the gate.  I put my shoes on there, watching as everyone is boarding my plane. 

I'm in the back of the line, but I made it!

In all of my years of flying, I've never seen these two incidents.  It was strange.  But my flight was fine, and I got to my destination safely.  So I guess that's all that really matters.