How does terror affect your personal way of life?

I don’t know what it feels like to lose a loved one in a terror attack. I have had loved ones die, but in those situations, the illness was known and there was some preparation time. But in terror tragedies, the loss is unexpected, sudden and unexplainable. In light of recent events in London and the foiled terror plot, it just makes me think about how, if at all, we change our personal habits after terrorist activity rears its ugly head.

How many flights have you taken since 9/11? Any international flights? Do you look for “suspicious activity” or strange looking unattended bags? And if you notice this type of activity, would you actually report it to authorities? Or would you say, “I am just being paranoid.” A Wal-Mart clerk didn’t think it was paranoia when a massive purchase of cell phones sent off an internal “this isn’t right alarm.” And look what happened, turns out that it was suspicious activity.

I use mass public transportation all the time, and honestly, I cannot say I have seen any ‘suspicious” activity. I have encountered some rude and idiotic persons, but nothing that made me think my life is in imminent danger. I had a flight to Miami scheduled for 9/14/01 and was willing to fly even after what happened just a few days earlier.

Do I have a death wish? I would like to think not. I am a risk taker no doubt. I am also an optimist. But I guess in the end, I always think, “It isn’t going to be my flight.” It would be too difficult to go through life thinking it would be.

I still fly to this day. I attended 3 weddings in 6 six weeks (starting the first week of July) and not once have I given serious thought to a terrorist being on my flight. (And I fly out of Washington DC, a target with serious juice to it). Do you think about it? Do you scan the crowd of people boarding your flight and wonder which person is the bad seed? I scan the crowd, but largely to determine whom I don’t want sitting next to me.

So why don’t we think about it more? Why doesn’t it consume our psyche constantly? Do we feel safe all the time? Or do we force ourselves to live in fantasy world that there will be only one 9/11? The world’s most recent events confirm that the potential for another 9/11 (or worse) exists and people are actively trying to make it happen. I believe we should be conscious that sick and twisted people are out there, but I trust that smart people are working diligently to make the skies friendly for everyone. I know this is a naïve and utopian view of things, but hey, I gotta believe in something.

I have read several articles with quotes ranging from “that is the risk you take for flying” or “I feel safer with all the security checks that are in place” or “How else am I to get from NY to LA in 6 hours?” Here is what I think. When the Lord says my time on this earth is up, it is time for me to go. It might be in my sleep, in my car, shot is the street or at the hands of a terrorist. I believe God has a plan for me and all his children, and as much as we may not want to think about it, the plan ends with us dying. So for me, no terrorist is going to scare me from flying. Part of that comes from an unrelenting desire to not give in to what they want and defy what they stand for, if they stand for anything. Where will my next flight be? I don’t know. But if my boss tells me to go to Birmingham, AL, I can guarantee you I am not driving there.

Don't be afraid of the MONSTER!

After yet another trip back to Texas and enjoying the taste of the fine cuisine that is Freebirds, I felt it time to bring my Top 10 (or so) reasons, that Chipotle will NEVER be better than Freebirds, to the world.

1. No monster (or super monster for that matter)
2. No habanero or death sauce
3. No one says “Sir, someone will be right with you”
4. Only 1 type of tortilla
5. No refried beans
6. No melted queso
7. They serve corn and only white rice
8. The lettuce looks like something from a salad at a hotel brunch
9. Watery sour cream
10. No BBQ sauce
11. No pink lemonade or Dr. Pepper
12. Where are the quesadillas??
13. They have terrible foil wrapping techniques
14. No stamp card
15. No statue of Liberty or foil creations lining the wall

I am such a fan that I carry a monster on the plane with me whenever I return home from Texas. Most friends and family know that if they are coming to visit (from a city that has a Freebirds), they better be carrying a brown paper bag with a monster wrapped in foil with them. Otherwise, they run the risk of getting left at baggage claim. No one has been left yet, thank goodness.

How do you feel about it? Those of you lucky enough to be able to eat Freebirds on a regular basis, consider it a blessing.