Investigating Me

Value: Security Since getting my new, artificial knee a year ago, I now have a problem in airport security. Most often, I go through the larger scanner which will show a yellow spot at my knee and then a woman TSA agent will use her wand and go over my personage to detect the metal location. When she uses her gloved hand to ‘pat’ me down, normally, I smile and say “that’s OK!” and in 30 seconds, I am ready to leave. Last week I was flying to visit family and I expected the normal security only it was not. As I went through the scanner, I noticed a large yellow target on my belly. I could not imagine what was wrong. After the scanner, I had 2 female TSA agents check me out. The first one seemed busy, the area was crowded and the traffic was heavy so after many swipes, she turned me over to another agent. After several more swipes with her hands, I began to feel embarrassed. I mentioned that maybe we should have done this privately and I saw a look of hostility with the retort “Do you think so?” “No, I am OK!” I quickly snapped. Another 15 seconds and we were done with that part. Then, we gathered up my satchel and my purse and the agent proceeded to swipe inside and outside of every little pocket and crevice with about five different, little residue strips. After replaying this scenario to my husband at the end of my trip, my husband just laughed. What was wrong, I asked myself. Looking down at my midsection, I then realized something new. The shirt I was wearing had sequins all over the front of it in the same pattern that I had seen on the scanner. Feeling my foolishness for being upset, I realized that I had experienced TSA thoroughly investigating something unusual. Threat comes in many disguises. Value Security!