So I get up this morning....get dressed and get ready to leave the ship.

(If you are just joining us..I Have been on a cruise all week)

I follow the concierge down to the waiting area and then he 

walks us all to where they scan our cards one last time as we 

leave the ship.

But when I get up to the scanner guy he tells me

I can't leave and must go see a security officer.

I'm like ????

So I go over and see her and she asks for my passport and 

immigration from and tells me I have been randomly selected to 

be questioned by homeland security.

So I think to myself...

OK...

No biggie.

I am kinda weird traveling by myself in a big suite 

on a cruise ship...

They just probably wanna check out why I don't 

fit the normal profile of a cruiser.

I figure.....15-20 mins....

They ask me questions and perhaps check my bags.

If they want to open my dirty laundry up and get a whiff of 

that Caribbean sweat.,..

BE MY GUEST!

I'm chill like that.

Frequent traveler who is used to delays and stuff

so no big deal...

RIGHT?

And besides...

I'd rather be safe and if random checks keep things 

under control...I'm all for it.


Or I thought I was until TWO HOURS passed and I knew I 

was going to miss my plane.

I call United....rebook...

And wait some more.

FINALLY they call my name and I get up to the agent

who asks me 2 questions and says I was held by mistake!

And in that moment I was NOT HAPPY.

In fact I was enraged. 

I was tired and wanted to go home and how I was going 

to spend the day in airports and not get home till 1 am!

But in that moment I had a FLASH and decided

that it was what is was and off I went to get a cab.

Great guy helps me....

Great guy at the airport handles my bags and makes things easy for me...

And when I got to the United club (which was very crowded I asked if I 

could sit with an older couple and they say SURE....

So I sit down and get into a conversation and come to find out that 

the man is a World War 2 veteran pilot and I proceed to get him to tell 

me stories for an hour that changed my life.

And it all never would have happened if I had not 

been detained in a security check.

I want you to meet David

And I want you to think next time that things don't go 

your way what the people who came before us went 

through during their years.

Today ....as much as we may belly ache about the minor...

We are SO fortunate..

And just as David as paving the way for us back in the 40s...

WE are paving the way for the future  NOW.

We are creating OUR legacy.

They are known as THE GREATEST GENERATION

Maybe your parents, grandparents or even great grandparents

were a part of it all.

We....well we have technology like they could

never have imagined.

And the time of a revolution like none other.

The question is...

What part will YOU play.

What will you say on your video when you are in your 80s?

When you look back will you KNOW you made a difference?

I know that is what I want to know when it is my time.

So for today I as I sit here for FIVE hours in Newark airport
due to a clerical error this morning....

I am content.

And thankful.



Signed 

Diane

You Friendly Neighborhood Security Risk!