More travel kvetching

Who travels by air between June and September? Everybody it seems - so the crowded airports, unhappy "campers" and frazzled airport/plane staff shouldn't come as a surprise. But when the TSA joins the party - that's a bit over the top. Not too long ago the TSA decided that travelers over 75 weren't likely to be terrorists so they sent out a notice stating that those born before 1937 didn't have to remove their shoes going through security. Also these venerable older citizens could keep a lightweight shirt or jacket on their shoulders - not necessary to remove sleeved garments and display folds of wrinkled skin with beaucoup black and blue marks from a bump here and there. OK - so far so good. I wore my shoes in Boston's Logan Airport, El Paso's airport and once in Washington's DCA airport. But yesterday,June 20, the DCA TSA people were a bit over-frazzled, rude and curt. A not too happy young TSA woman decided to test my shoes for no apparent reason - no signals, beeps or anything going through the detector. She then said in her most smarmy, nasty voice available - "well you didn't have to take them off - I tested them on your feet"- as if she was granting me a great favor/courtesy. Excuse me - what's this new thing about people over 75 not needing to take their shoes off? And I guess my biggest peeve is the lack of consistency - I have had more than my share of uncomfortable pat downs since I don't want to go through the body scanner which emits an unknown amount of radiation and I've had my share of X-rays along with my breast cancer. Despite statistically unscientific reports touting "no danger" to this "minimal amount of radiation" we're still in unknown territory when it comes to radiation in the bodies of older (over 80) people. In DCA several weeks ago and leaving El Paso five days ago I asked if I could go through the regular metal scanner and avoid the body scanner. Two extremely courteous, TSA officers said "no problem" and allowed me to skip the radiation dose. But yesterday in DCA - another DCA man snapped at me and said either go through the full body scanner or get the pat-down. He let a couple of kids go through the metal scanner - (good, because we don't know that much about radiation and its absorption by kids). He then allowed two more passengers to go through the metal scanner. My turn? Guess he didn't like my face (or was it because I was wearing my shoes and a short sleeve sweater?) Oh well - now that I've kvetched, I'll put on my happy face. I wish upgrades to business class and better for all my friends and relatives flying this summer! Oh yes - I was in Washington DC for the Fancy Food Show - mmm delicious! More about that later.