I was sitting on the throne in the San Jose Airport, taking care of business before a long flight when an announcment came over the loud speaker, "Someone has left their laptop at security in terminal B, please return to security to claim it." In a panic, I unzipped my carry-on and saw that I did indeed grabbed my laptop among all the other things that were scattered along the conveyer belt. Just then, I recieved a phone call on my wife's phone (why I have my wife's phone, read Part 1). It was my mother, my phone had arrived by UPS to their house and she was wondering if I wanted to try to make a trade. Knowing the amount of stress that would be relieved by all parties having their own personal phones, I decided it was worth the risk. I told my mom to bring the phone to the airport.
I had already been through security once, there had to be a way that I could trade a phone without having to go through security again, right.... Not a chance! So I left "the secure area" to go wait curbside for my parents who were bringing me my long lost phone (Part 1). Am I going to still make my flight? Can I trade phone, make it through security, and make it to my gate before my plane pushes off.... The minutes creep by.
Finally, I see my parents arriving in the distance, I go out to the middle of the chaos, trying to avoid a trip to the hospital and make a quick trade. I'm sure those who were watching, thought a deal had just gone down... I hustle my way back to the security lines. And wait... and wait... and the time, although it is ticking slowly, the amount time before my plane leaves is moving fast (I cannot explain that). Finally I am showing my ID, and the lady gives me one of those looks like, "you have been here before..." Of course, like any good suspense movie, I get behind Mr and Mrs. Slowski, who have obviously not flown since before 9/11. Luckily, I was there and motivated enough to teach them in the ways of swift movment through a security checkpoint... "Yes, mam, you must take off your shoes... Sir, they want your jacket on the conveyer belt as well."
Phew! I made it through security and now its time to "Home Alone" or "OJ Simpson" my way through the airport. And I arrive at my gate just as they call for "A boarding."
I enter the plane, and believe it or not, the coveted Exit Seat is still available. I go to pull my laptop out of my carry-on... and...
You guessed it. My laptop is still back at security! My worst nightmare. Hundreds of potential options run through my head as the plane kept filling up with passengers. What I am going to do? I can't leave the laptop. I need it this week.... I flagged down the flight attendant and told her my predicament she says...
"We will wait for you, if you want to delay everybody's flight..." Unfortunately, there were 35 other people within an earshot, now looking at me thinking, 'you better not!' I could feel a heavy scowl! I asked her if she would save my "prized seat." She agreed and I took off weaving in and out of people filing onto the plan and sprinted my way back through the airport! One, I am really getting my exercise. Two, San Jose airport is really long. I make it back to security out of breath, and I enter where it says not to. Good thing too, that attracted a lot of attention. They pulled out a couple laptops and I immediately identified mine, but they needed proof. The only thing I could think of was to boot it up and type in the password to get in.... and windows is loading... and loading... Finally, I am running through the airport again with my laptop in hand. I get to the gate and thankfully the plane is still there.
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