Airports

Last time I flew I sat next to a fellow combat vet.  We talked about my blog and as we both sat down disturbed, he mentioned about how I should write about how stressful it is for vets with PTSD to fly.

We get anxious and extremely irritable. From security to the flight attendants, to the smells on airplanes, it just plane sucks.

That long of a period of time where you aren't in control of your own life.

Whew..

And since I'm flying tomorrow I thought I would write about how much I hate to fly.

I used to Love it and find it exciting, but now...

Airports make me feel uneasy and I start to feel sick to my stomach.

Security brings out the anxiety.

I feel like an animal being sent to the slaughter house. Stripped of my possessions and herded through a small gateway.

 It's even worse with kids and all the gear you have to haul.

Take off your jacket,

remove your shoes,

stick your tiny 0.5 oz bottle of hand sanitizer in a separate container,

separate all electronics,

try to make sure the kids don't have any contraband in their pockets,

and heaven forbid you wear a long skirt or a dress that goes to the floor. 

You're sure to be sent through the body scan or the ever so invasive pat down.

They ask if you would feel more comfortable being patted down in a separate room.

"No thanks, I think I'd rather have the rest of the herd watch as you grope my entire body with your blue non-latex gloves"

Body Scans and Pat Downs make me feel invaded.

I was relating my woes to some friends of mine and they suggested that I apply for assistance through TSA. 

I had no idea that TSA had done something so cool to help Injured Veterans.

Check out their website Here.

I applied for assistance once and let me tell you, Salt Lake and Denver TSA members who helped me get a HUGE two thumbs up and a raving review. 

I had four legs of travel that day that started at 7am and ended at 11pm. 

The head of security met me curbside in Salt Lake, thanked me for my service and told me a bit about his own, he smiled and was kind to my children, but he really took the cake when I got to security and realized that I had left my purse in the trunk of the car. 

Luckily I had my ID in my back pocket. 

He sent me on through security and escorted me to my gate.  He waited at the curb until my dad brought my purse back.  The kids and I had already boarded the plane.  He brought it through security and gave it to the flight attendants and took an enormous amount of stress off.

I was met in Denver by the head of security who helped the kids and I get to our connecting gate.

That evening when I flew back through Denver on my way to Aspen, I was met by two beautiful ladies who watched my bags for me so I didn't have to lug them into the restroom.

Their cheerful smiles and kind hearts really made the end of the trip pleasant.

Thanks Ladies!

...Atlanta on the other hand....gets a two thumbs way way down.

Maybe I'll give them another shot sometime to see if my opinion changes.