Charlotte Airport

I’m going to be specific here, because I don’t think that my one experience at the Charlotte Airport can really make a true rating. So, I am going to rate the Charlotte Airport security guards at gate D on a Friday morning. After walking the wrong way with my heavy bags, I had to turn around and go back to the other end of the airport. I’ve never left from Gate D before, I’ve always left from Gate A. On this day, Jet Blue led me to Gate D. My first security encounter was a man who commented on my beautiful jewelry. He pointed to my watch, to which I replied ‘I know, I’m taking it off right now.’ He didn’t walk off, or reply with some snide remark or nod. He said ‘dress for success but not in the airport’ and then continued to have a conversation about gels (which he was proud of me for having in a bag), about taking off shoes, and then said ‘we’re just here to make this smoother’. (i.e. not to kick you out of the airport) The two gentlemen checking IDs were joking and laughing back and forth. Not specifically with me, but it made me feel more at ease rather than making me feel like the center of scrutiny. On to the metal detector. I put all my stuff through and walked through slightly nervous as I always do. The man said very seriously ‘smile’ – and when I did he smiled back and said ‘much better’. I realized that my bag was stalled under the Xray machine, and all the sudden I realized that I hadn’t taken my computer out of the bag. Rather than getting a reprimand and a second trip through the machine, the man behind the conveyor belt, said ‘I’ll get that for you’, took the computer out and walked it back through for me. Wow, is all I can say about that. No mean look, no rude comment, no disgusted sigh. Just a simple walk back through the X-ray machine.
I know, this blog wasn’t as funny as previous blogs, because I’m not laughing as I write it, but I’ve been through a lot of airports in my lifetime, and I felt the Gate D security on a Friday morning at Charlotte Airport deserved a shout out for their humor, smiles, patience, and overall joy of life. Because of that, I feel they deserve a Fresh. I can’t say for sure this is the best there is, but I can say this is the best security experience I ever had. In fact, I felt refreshed after the experience, and how many of you have used the work airport and refreshed in the same sentence? Now, I have had a pretty rough 8 months, I’ve experienced multiple meltdowns and more than one time have considered quitting my job, leaving all my responsibilities and running away to anywhere (preferably an island in the Caribbean). I was at the airport to leave for a short vacation in the attempt to not do all the above. Had it not gone this well, I may have done damage with my dull nail clipper or empty water bottle. Therefore, I thank God for a ray of sunshine at the start of a very sunny vacation, and for saving me from a trip to jail.