That lady didnt feel the need to control the situation. Therefore, her emotions were at a level of peace and laughter. Anger wouldnt have changed the fact that a secondary check of her bag was happening. Now, on the inside of security, anger has gotten passengers into first class, better service, vouchers, mileage increases, free drinks etc. These entitlements created anger in some people who used the system to work the system. People have learned that anger can produce results. People live in and out of drama.
YOU choose your feelings very moment of the day. When you communicate with other people using respect, you ultimately feel better about yourself.
I’m seen as defending the TSA workforce on this site. Having a job where passengers can wear you down emotionally and physically, I relate to them. Few people see past the uniform.
Hapgood, you need to stop letting the world affect your inner peace. Do as that lady did, affect the world around with your peace. =)

Hapgood, what’s your screenname?

(Frank– if you are who I think you are– I miss your columns.)

She lives with JOY. After years of flying for a living, it was a decade ago when I finally realized anger comes from within. Certain events in one’s day can bring that anger out whether it be emotional or physical. Most people are not angry at the cirumstance, it was the vehicle that brought it to the surface. Flying can be frustrating, you lack control over when you get there, where you sit, when you drink, where your rollaboard can be stowed….etc. I, too, Jason, watch for those people who surrender that control to events that are out of their control.

Smart Lady.

I will admit that the preternaturally-gifted woman you describe had the right approach to her cameo role in the TSA Security Theater Production. Like any petty officials with thankless jobs, at least some TSA screeners surely derive special pleasure from exercising their power to make passengers very upset. Most people would indeed be very angry if their carefully-packed belongings were dumped onto a filthy table in full view of everyone, then pawed through by a screener’s filthy hands, after which they’d have to gather up and re-pack everything as quickly as possible before dashing to the gate. The understandable blood-boiling outrage would surely be a sight that filled the screener’s petty little heart with a full day’s worth of joy and exultation in his Power and Authority.

But this woman’s saintly grace under what must have been extreme pressure not only set an example for the rest of us, it denied the the screener whatever pleasure they might have derived from watching her suffer from what they imposed. I don’t know how many ordinary mortals could have done what this extraordinary woman was able to do. But doing whatever is possible to remain calm and avoid showing any distress will certainly make the indignities of travel better– even if it’s not possible to be as cheerfully unflappable as that woman. And “traveling gracefully” is probably the only way to get back at the petty tyrants, by denying them the pleasure of seeing us react when they push our buttons.

For those of us who are nothing like that amazing woman, the most practical way to “travel gracefully” is to arrive at the airport absurdly, ridiculously, preposterously early. That way there will be ample time to deal with whatever unexpected glitches might happen without the time pressure. Bring a book or MP3 player to kill the time, or share your cheer with fellow passengers. So if the TSA honors you with a dump search, you can possibly afford to accept it all with grace and appreciation. And then after they’ve left your belongings in a heap, you can carefully inventory and re-pack everything before walking to the gate (and smile gracefully at the screeners who complain about your holding up the line). On the other hand, if it’s really necessary to spend so much time at an airport, wouldn’t driving or taking the train be a more “graceful” way to travel?