PROTECTED FROM HINSHAWS

 

Martin and I have few home security measures. We have locks on the doors and windows. We have no guns so my plan for a nighttime emergency is to kick Martin out of the bed so he can handle the intruder.

At our advanced ages, you might think that travel threats for us would be tripping hazards and lost luggage. But official personnel often find us suspicious.

In November, we headed to Maryland by way of Hobby Airport. I walked into the scanner and after a couple of guards consulted like doctors checking an x-ray, a female security staff member shared that she would be running her hands up and down my legs, inside the waistband of my jeans, across my chest and back, and would swipe my wrists with a mysterious substance that I assume glowed on unsavory passengers.

The next week, Baltimore airport security staff repeated the phrase, “Ma’am you need to step away from the line, please. Let me explain what we will be doing…”

But I was not the only potential threat. As we entered the National Archives in Washington DC. Martin was stopped and was asked if he had a “man tool” on his person. As a hearing-impaired senior citizen, it took him a minute to decipher that they were referring to the Leatherman tool he carries. After having the Leatherman measured, examined and compared to photographs, they allowed him to enter. 

We moved on to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and Martin was pulled aside again. He tried hard to hear the masked security staff and when he was asked “Do you have a wallet in your pocket?” he looked perplexed and said, “No, but I do have this billfold.” He pulled it out and offered it, then began to put it back and was stopped. “Sir, please keep your hands visible.” Stephanie explained his hearing issues, so they called me aside and asked me to explain to him what was happening.

The guard slowly said, “We have to escort you out of the museum. You have contraband.” Then she lowered her voice and said, “When I escort you out, I will save a place for you to re-enter – after you have disposed of the tool. You may put it in your car…,” (we were enjoying public transportation so that was not an option) “or you may decide to hide it somewhere.”

I yelled loudly repeated the instructions to Martin over the background noise, then watched him being led away. Minutes later we were reunited and viewing the Wright brothers’ plane. When we left Martin dug his Leatherman out of a flower bed. (This week we watched a movie set in DC and Martin announced, "there is my flower bed!") The rest of our trip he refused to even carry his backpack .

This blog is not by attempt to complain about security, but simply a sharing of experiences that may make your next trip to Washington DC less stressful.

PS: Another time I will share why you should not pack a rope in your backpack if you are visiting DisneyWorld.