With this post, I'm giving you permission to laugh at me versus with me. Go ahead. Get it out of your system.
Clearing airport security is an art form. Those of us who travel often, for business and personal, have it down to a science. Yes, very similar to what George Clooney did in Up In The Air. Although hopefully without the ethnic stereotyping. For those who are disabled it can be even more challenging, especially as we go into the heavy traffic season of holiday travel.
Having traveled with my mother, who requires a wheelchair to get around an airport, I must admit that I love traveling with someone in her situation. All you need to do is make prior arrangements and an airport attendant will be on-hand with a wheelchair when you check in. The attendant pushes the wheelchair. You are taken to the front of the line to clear security, customs, and immigration. And, regardless of whether or not you have membership, you're typically taken to the flying club to await boarding. That said, the handicapped person must still be prepared to take their shoes off at security, as well as walk through the scanner. The attendant assists with all of this.
But for those of us who aren't typically handicapped and find ourselves in a temporary handicapped position, it's a bit more challenging. Yes, you can make the arrangements noted above but if the handicap is relatively minor then any seasoned traveler would rather continue on their own.
Hooker Shoes
I recently found myself in a temporary 'disabled' situation. How I came to be in this state, of course, is a story in and of itself ...
At some point in recent time, what we used to call 'hooker shoes' became business-appropriate. You know, the 5" high heeled platform pump. And, yes, I succumbed to fashion.
I was at a Manhattan rooftop bar of a very nice hotel with a business associate. It was late at night so quite dark, and as we walked to a table I didn't see the two very small stairs and I completely lost my footing ... on both feet ... in my no-longer-hooker-but-now-very-fashionable pumps. Graceful. I was mortified.
Women around the world know that when wearing platform shoes you can't feel the ground, and so regaining your footing can be quite challenging when you lose it on both feet. Thankfully, my associate has a ton of kids and his arm immediately popped out Jerry Seinfeld 'Stopping Short' style. As I clung for my life, literally hanging off of his arm (he must be quite strong), it took me a while to get my footing back.
The next morning, I couldn't move my foot. I ended up in an orthopedic boot and banned from heels, dancing, and running. As I was leaving for a week in Miami the next day, I was not happy. How does any woman go to Miami and not wear sexy heels with little skimpy dresses, dance, or run on the beach?
 |
| (No, this ugly foot is not mine. It came with the photo.) |
Initially my doctor brought out a boot that looked like a tall ski boot. "Oh...no no no no," I said to him as I waved my index finger back & forth. So he brought out a boot like the one above only it was 'closed toe.' I had to wear this lovely boot for 2.5 months. And as a result of my mobility being greatly restricted, I regained the weight that I lost this past spring. Lovely. And I was so enjoying being back into my fantastic wardrobe again.
Sigh.
NeoDiet Blue
Not to fear! As I wrote in my 5/9/10 post entitled "Bodies, Adventure, Travel, and Topless Bathing Suits", a friend of mine has the perfect aid to help me get my body back quickly. So I'm now hanging out with my dear friends NeoDiet Blue (by Laura Termini's Neotura) and NY Health & Racquet Club ... Holiday dresses, here I come!
Oh yes, Here's How I Cleared Security
-some TSA agents required me to put the boot on the belt, but I did not have to remove the bandage from my foot ... easy breezy
-most TSA agencts required I leave the boot on. This also meant a 5-10 minute wait for someone to swab the boot and test for explosive substance. The longest part of this process, of course, was waiting for someone to actually come over to conduct the test. Ah, the joys of clearing security these days.
Happy Holiday Travels!!
-most TSA agencts required I leave the boot on. This also meant a 5-10 minute wait for someone to swab the boot and test for explosive substance. The longest part of this process, of course, was waiting for someone to actually come over to conduct the test. Ah, the joys of clearing security these days.
Happy Holiday Travels!!
No comments:
Post a Comment