I Used To Enjoy Going To The Airport Part Two

 My last solo trip on an airplane was after the TSA started screening passengers and I remember almost missing my flight because it took some time to put on my belt and shoes and get to the gate and again having to adjust my belt as I sat in my seat on the airplane before taking off.

My nephew accompanied to the airport and traveled with me this trip.  The TSA folks kept moving me over to the short lines, the guy at the front desk asked me if I needed a wheelchair.  Long story shortened I guess I looked like an accident waiting to happen and I would probably screw up the longer line if I fell down.  Being out of practice, I forgot to take off my belt and was excused from taking off my shoes, preferring to being wanded and explaining I had a hip replacement and would need a chair to put my shoes back on.  

Moving sidewalks seemed less daunting than a "train" with various stops along the concourse with the added advantage of admiring art in public places and about two hundred years.  The Atlanta Airport is huge and even with moving stairways I got a lot of steps in.

Waking up really early we avoided any major crowds in Fort Myers and traveled without crowding on the plane going North.  The Atlanta Airport was crowded by my limited standards and the concept of "social distancing was impractical but everyone wore masks and folks seemed to be on their best behavior.

If I was to grade the travel experience these days, I'm convinced that all unnecessary travel on airplanes, interstate busses, and trains should be avoided.  What is necessary for you and me might be different and it is better that we can all make that decision a little more safely with the availability of vaccines but it is still a crap shoot for the time being.

All told it's a little strange that you now need to arrive two hours before departure for a flight that takes only about an hour and fifteen minutes.

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