Miami Airport

My time here at the airport really could not have gone any faster and slower at the same time. The days went by fast but the month went by slowly. And then, here I was, 30 days later at my last staff meeting preparing to say goodbye to everyone. But before I get into that, here's how I spent my time at the airport.

Driving around on the tarmac and parking in front of incoming planes. Those things are loud if you have your window down.

Racing airplanes

Chasing airplanes

Basically, I turned into a little kid when I was driving around the airport like this. I didn't get to do this everyday though, most of my time was spent in meetings or in my little cube. Therefore, when I did get the chance to go for a ride I was so excited. I am sure my coworkers got a kick out of the kid-in-a-candy-store expression that was plastered on my face, while, of course still trying to compose myself and act like a professional.....RIGHT I am following a giant airplane in a car! If you don't think that's awesome then you are seriously missing out on some fun in life.

I think the SIDA badge has some sort of power over the psyche. As soon as I got a badge, I was an airport employee albeit temporary. I could get through secret doors, get discounts on food and didn't look like a lost passenger who is seriously over-dressed for travel. Nonetheless, the SIDA badge granted me the opportunity to drive around the airport, look under the belly of airplanes and go on inspections with inspectors, among so many other things.

Sigh, so it finally got to be my last day and I had an out-brief with the Deputy Federal Security Director of the airport - shared what I learned and provided an info memo on my observations. I felt the need to produce something! After that I got to attend my last staff meeting and I was honestly shaking from the thought that I was going to be called out and have to provide a short speech or something. Every time a subject changed or the FSD looked around the room I had a mini heart attack. Remember the anxiety I mentioned in my last post? Terrible...however, at the end of the meeting, the FSD asked me to stand up and he presented me with a Miami airport pen and he asked that I use it whenever I am writing some sort of policy etc that will somehow have an impact on his airport. I found it to be quite a lovely gesture and I could not contain my embarrassment. Red cheeks, constant uncomfortable smiling, endless thank you's, shake hands, etc etc. Oh goodness, it was terrible and awesome at the same time. All I can say is that I got to breathe a bit at the realization that I was not required to say anything.

Still took me a few minutes to calm down though, shaky, fast-beating heart, ugh it's terrible. I had a final lunch with some coworkers and friends at the airport and then I was off on my way to get on an earlier flight. That was an interesting adventure that basically ends with me having about 5 hours to roam the airport. I wonder how one spends their free time at an airport?.....

As I finally got on to my plane - 5 hours and three beers later, I thought I would be ecstatic to get home. I felt a slight pull to turn around and head to south beach…really, I did. As soon as I got on the plane, I opened my window shade. Looking down on the tarmac, I realized that just last week I had been driving around in a car with someone and I got to walk around and look up into the wheel well of the same size plane I was not sitting in. I got to flash my SIDA badge and pretend like I actually mattered. I got discount at the airport shops and I felt like I belonged in the airport instead of just being a passenger. These fleeting experiences seem to go by in an instant and I’m afraid I never feel their impact until I leave. I look out my window at the expanse of the airport, remember walking from end of the airport to the other, freezing in the air conditioning, wishing I was home, and now missing the routine that I inadvertently began.