I was in Dulles Virginia airport a few days ago thinking of how different it is.  I was there soon after 9/11 and it was wicked.  The newly hired and trained swarm of security stood about in their new starched uniforms.  There was dead silence among the travellers, and there were 100s of us quietly marching our way through the winding line-up. 

The soldiers in fatigues stood at attention at each security station with their rifles.  The only sound was the security people repeating “shoes off, laptops out of bags, keys, coins and metal out of your pockets”.  And it was really important to not make the metal detector go off because the 10 minutes of being patted down could make you feel like a convict, and miss your flight.

And it seemed like wherever I went the news was always on.  CNN or whatever station that specializes in don’t-blink-the-world-is-ending-now news would be blaring in whatever hotel or airport I’m in.  One time I remember going from the screeching news channels in a US airport to the Montreal airport where the tv’s were broadcasting Fashion TV.  What a difference.  Sure it’s inane, but man, I relaxed and was glad to be back in my home country.

Last week at the hotel the news was all inauguration all the time.  The only crisis the news station could come up with was – Sure the White House is pretty wired, but there are no Macs!  Whew, thankfully I’ve never heard of death by PC usage. 

This time there was talk about the 7 year old neighbour to President Obama who’s written the book and giving the proceeds to charity.  (Aside – what is it about kids doing stuff for charity these days?  Where are all the greedy kids with a bad case of the gimmes that I grew up with??) This time there was footage from a National Geographic show on Air Force One and Obama’s first ride in it, showing him cordially greeting and thanking the flight staff.

This time at the airport the 20-something guys sitting at the xray machines were joking around with each other.  Not slacking, just relaxed and having fun while they work.

This time a 50 year old white security agent took a long time graciously helping a black woman out of her wheelchair and through the metal detector while the line up grew behind me and everyone waited patiently.  Now maybe that happens every day, i just haven’t seen it.  But it all just felt so different.