My Grandma Helen loved to travel. Every summer she would take her “big trip.” She went to Russia, India, Africa and everywhere in between. It was a big deal when Grandma Helen went on her trip. It was a family affair. We took her to the airport and she insisted she be there hours in advance. As a matter of fact, Grandma Helen so looked forward to her trips that we are certain she had her suitcase packed, ready to go, weeks in advance.
Grandma Helen loved the airport. She loved the airplane meal and the tiny salt and pepper shakers everyone received with their meal. We would walk to her gate with her, walk her on the plane and kiss her goodbye.
I lived in Broward county for 30+ years. I loved Ft. Lauderdale airport. in the 80’s it was a sleepy place. Easy to get to and easy to get out. It functioned well. You could park your car curbside, outside of the terminal and walk inside. If you were picking up someone, you just walked to the gate. I know some of you are thinking this is a fantasy. Others remember, fondly, what I am writing about.
Back in the day, airplanes were hijacked. Hijacked passengers kept their heads down and in most instances, were unharmed. Then we all experienced 9/11 and travel was never the same. The thought of the passengers taking control and tackling the terrorists on United Airlines Flight 93 was remarkable and heroic. The passengers on this flight left a legacy that passengers should be in control of their own destiny.
In the years that followed, the travel going public has been subjected to travel rules and regulations that change at a whim. Shoes off, jewelry off, nothing in your pockets, no liquids through security, no knives, no sharp objects. All of these edicts were to keep us safe and prevent another terrorist attack. We didn’t complain. We just followed the rules. We adapted. We were told that once we got to an airport the safest place to be was inside, beyond security. That was until Friday, January 6, 2017.
I was glued to the TV on Friday when the “incident” took place. (I don’t know what else to call it.) I watched the live feeds from the news choppers showing people running for their lives. I know that airport like the back of my hand. I recognized the carpet and the art on the walls. I know where those train tracks are and how far they are from the terminal. It was very real and it was nauseating.
Mark and I immediately switched into “news mode.” We started gathering as much information as we could and shared it on our SouthFloridaReporter.com, SWFloridaReporter.com and a host of our social media sites.
I was following Twitter feeds as fast as I could letting people know how to get their baggage, change flights and where to get help. It was rewarding work and it kept me sane. (Kudos to @BrowardSheriff, @FLLFlyer, @jetblue, @delta for their frequent updates)
People associate trips to Ft Lauderdale with sun, fun, beach, cruises and visits to see grandma. You can now add one more thing to the list–“the shooting.” It will never be forgotten in our collective memory.
Our family is coming to visit us in a few weeks and will be flying in to Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. They are understandably worried. My daughter-in-law posted on Facebook, “This is a little nerve wracking considering we will be at FLL airport in 3 weeks.” My response was lame. The best I could come up with is, “I understand.” Did she want more assurances? I don’t have them to give. Who knew you could bring guns on to an airplane and it was totally legal? I didn’t.
I don’t think anyone who travels on a plane will be the same after January 6, 2017. Will we ever know why a man got on a plane, picked up his checked bag from the carousel, took out his semi-automatic handgun and randomly began shooting people? Probably not. Everyone will formulate their own theories. What we do know is that all of the rules we have been dutifully following have done nothing to protect us from evil.
The good old days are over. We’re on our own.
