Mucho Gracias (belated) to my generous and anonymous gifter!

[beachtree]

Thanks so much for my polar bear. Awesome choice! How did you know that I had adopted one? Okay, so it was virtually, but I hope it has a parental impact in a shrinking polar world

Comments

[beachtree]

I used to fly many times during each month, so that has lessened. I'm eternally grateful. I'd rather not travel the way it apparently has to be now.

We did actually switch terminals- multiple times as well- and the flight crew was in tow. Of course, TSA was equally clueless and hostile and kept us detained a half hour each time waiting for manifests and passenger and crew lists to match our photo I.D.s before we could unpack our carry-on bags and remove shoes and be individually searched. Did I mention this was a make shift security check in the midst of construction? By the third time, we'd all had it. The next time, patience had run out. And to think, we were never supposed to be in this particular airport...

No one was laughing by the end, due to another incident. I think everyone was frazzled after the 10, 12, 14... hour point.

The airline did send a survey, which I completed honestly. The letter will go out maybe after the 1st, when I should have a little time to myself to compose.

I will so not be flying anywhere to ring in 2009- that's for sure!

[famous99]

Oy, it becomes worse with each comment. A real horror!

[beachtree]

Ah, fun times! And to think, I spared you the truly gory details. Consider yourself lucky.

Home is where the heart is. And there's no place like it, right? (Dorothy was on to something.)

Travel used to actually be fun in some ways. Now, it's all about survival. Expect the unexpected and hope to come out in one piece- and relatively sane.

[famous99]

I know what you mean. When I was a kid, and even up until my early 20s, I thought traveling was fun too. I'm not sure it was before or after 9/11 that it became such a hassle. (Or rather that it felt like it was such a hassle. Traveling since 9/11 has become a nightmare... but I think the luster of travel was lost beforehand.)

[beachtree]

ITA. I don't remember not flying, and doing so frequently, since my first flight was at age 2 weeks. We were fortunate to travel widely, and I did consider myself to be blessed and lucky to have that opportunity. It wasn't just about the destination, but about the journey. Many of the actual flights were fun, and they weren't always without incident, since some of the airlines and destinations involved locations/countries without great infastructure. And it wasn't just about being a kid. The attitude and approach was different and people handled things differently.

When I was in school in D.C., I didn't notice major changes. It wasn't until the next phase, when I was in SoCal, that I began to dread the experience. That was still prior to 9/11, since I was here by then. It seemed that there were constant airfare wars always ongoing, new airlines coming into business, and instability within the industry. There was suddenly a huge increase in the number of people traveling too. So much to consider!

Definitely, with 9/11, which came at a time when I was flying regularly for work, there was more involved security and airport procedures, fewer flights, more delays, and a revamping of much of the system.

As you say, the shine had definitely dulled prior to 9/11, but that seemed to be the fatal blow. I really hope it doesn't get worse. I hate to think that it realistically can, but anything's possible!