I wrote the following in 2011 and – for some reason – I never posted it. I just reread it and found it mildly interesting. So I hope you enjoy it. 

I have been on vacation – enjoying a cruise. I was quite pleased to find that I couldn’t use my Blackberry on board the ship. I am certain that with a tiny bit of effort I could have found a way – but quite honestly I didn’t have the will. There was an Internet café but to get to it I had to pass a bar. Need I say more?

I’m on my way home now, which is everyone’s least favourite part of any vacation. Let’s face it. Many of us love to travel but whoever said that “getting there is half the fun” must have been half in the bag. Really? I hate travelling. But I’m in Toronto, getting closer to home, and there is a story I want to share.

I left the ship at 9:30 this morning, spent 5 hours in the Fort Lauderdale airport followed by a three-hour flight sitting beside a baby with two hours of crying to do. I am now in Toronto with a five-hour layover.

Personal success (still undefined) includes, in my opinion, the ability to keep up a positive mindset. Some say – attitude is all we’ve got.  But sometimes it’s tough. After a long flight sitting beside that otherwise cute, sweet baby (who obviously shared my displeasure of travel), with “hours to go before I sleep” maintaining a cheerful demeanor was hard. But here’s were it gets interesting.

I cleared customs and was standing in the security screening line – yet again. There were the usual delays as people forgot to empty their pockets or tried to smuggle water or shampoo in their suitcases. The fellow ahead of me was grumpy, in a hurry and fretting – he had a tight connection. I was relaxed and in no rush – did I mention a five-hour layover?

Said fellow ahead had the full allotment of carry-on luggage along with a coat, a jacket and a laptop. Each of his items seemed cause for concern. To me he was a normal, non-suspicious looking  guy  – a little cranky, slightly sweaty but after all, he was in a hurry. On the other hand I concede that I don’t have the finely honed skills of the CBSA. So I was interested.

His last bag came through the scanner and yet again security said, “Is this yours?” signalling their intention to rummage through his belongings. When he sadly acknowledged ownership they asked if he had an “instrument” in the bag. He replied that it wasn’t an instrument and then showed them a laminated card that he removed from his wallet. I was trying to mind my own business (really) but there is not much to distract you when you are standing barefoot waiting for your belongings to be x-rayed.

Security asked if they could look in his suitcase, was it alright to do it right there, did he want privacy. He replied that right there was fine.

The airport screening woman carefully opened his suitcase and gently shifted some clothes. (I couldn’t help but peek despite my good intentions.) I felt sympathy for a fellow traveler as I imagined underwear and other personal items being fondled by a stranger. After she rummaged for a while she started to pull out what I thought was a jacket. But – it had legs attached – with feet – and on the other end – a head! Now I was wide-eyed and straight out staring as she held up a full-sized ventriloquist’s dummy.

I laughed right out loud. Fellow ahead of me cracked a smile.

My mood was considerably brightened. Who would have expected a line up through airport security and a grumpy stranger to be the highlight of my day?

Does that experience add to my personal success? Not likely – but it gave me something to write about and that made me happy.