I would like to say first of all that every airport should be like the one in Mosinee, WI.
No endless terminals. No trams. No cavernous spaces. Just seven little ol’ gates. (Randy and Debbie’s son, Caleb, works at this airport.)
And when you’re dropped off by long-suffering relatives who have been counting down the minutes until your departure? (Just kidding, Randy and Deb.) No one blows a whistle at you or calls Homeland Security. You can stand there and say your goodbyes for as long as you like because, in rural Wisconsin, lolly-gagging is not against the rules. We even took a moment to stand in a circle and pray and nary a warning whistle was blown.
And security? Well, let me tell you about security. That is where all the small-town, midwestern hospitality started to unravel.
It all started when I handed the TSA Agent my driver’s license. She took it. She looked at it. Then she looked back at me. She studied the license again and then looked up to stare at me. And she frowned in deep concentration. And may I just say that it was a pretty big frown.
I thought, “Oh no. My past has caught up with me. That dime I stole from my mom’s purse when I was twelve years old has finally come back to haunt me.”
I held my breath as she glanced at the license one more time and then studied me long and hard while I waited for the handcuffs to appear and an unceremonious trek to the holding area for my interrogation.
When the agent finally handed the license back to me she said with a smile, “Your hair is different on your license. I like it better now.
What a relief!
The airport offered an interesting diversion for people waiting for their flights–a big ol’ chess set. I think it would be a cool way to get exercise, just running all around the board moving the pieces.
The time came all too soon when we left behind the rural airport pleasantness and arrived back in Charlotte where we were greeted by cars, buses, whistles, exhaust, and noise. It made me long for Wisconsin.
But I still had a smile riding the tram back to the parking deck with Steve at 9 p.m. We were safely home and we’d had a great and relaxing trip.
Oh, wait.
Home? I haven’t even told the Away part of the story yet. Please wait one moment while I rewind my brain and rewind back to Wisconsin.
First of all, the scenery. Oh, the lovely scenery.
These next photos show a different type of scenery. A reduced-scale community was created with a railway, a station, and a school. So cool!
Here’s a real schoolhouse!
I was very glad to happen upon this cemetery set in the rolling hills.
One afternoon, Steve and I took a walk through the woods with Randy and Debbie.
Debbie and I trundled along behind Steve and Randy, who have always been the super-walkers. It was good to see the two of them conversing so easily as they have done for almost four decades.
Speaking of family and decades, on one of my jaunts through the country, I went to this cemetery that Randy had told me about. (He’s always great at suggesting places for me to wander.)
Somehow I missed the fact that some of his ancestors were buried there. While I was wandering about drinking in the sacred stillness of the place, I was caught up short by the name on one of the tombstones. And then I realized that the farm in the distance was his family’s old homestead. It was so special to see a part of the wonderful heritage that my sister married into.
This cemetery was just about a mile outside the tiny town of Milan. While driving through, my attention was caught by this small ballfield on the side of the road. I thought of how many games had been played there over the years, under the serene Wisconsin sky. A simple place for a slower pace.
Near the ball field was this old bank building. Randy told me later that someone had turned it into a house. How cool to live in an old bank!
Of course, no blog about Wisconsin is complete without a few photos of Ruth’s lovely, quirky belongings.
All too soon it was time to leave our lovely bedroom behind. (It was stocked with thoughtful treats by Deb, who excels at hospitality.)
The cows of Wisconsin will be relieved to not have me zipping up and down their roads anymore. I’m quite sure they were thinking, “What in the world is that woman doing?”
I love the land of my childhood and the people of my childhood. But none of us are getting any younger! Steve and my brother Tim are both sixty-six years old and there are a whole lot of us following behind them who are in our early sixties and late fifties. We now represent the oldest generation in our family.
Grandparents are gone. Parents are gone. To quote something I once read, “We are now the tallest trees in the forest.”
I think that’s one reason I love to capture cemeteries in photos. I need to be reminded as often as possible about how short life is, and how many “dangers, toils, and snares” it contains.
But life also contains many joys–the sweetness of Wisconsin farm mornings, the grand autumnal display of God’s creation, and the love of an imperfect, beloved family whose hope is built on the firm foundation passed on to them by all who have gone before.
What about you?
Have you ever had an interesting experience going through security?
What does the week ahead hold for you?
Your story about the reluctant TSA agent cracked me up. Her summary comment that she liked your hair better now gave me new insight on the demands of being a TSA agent! Your photos were beautiful (as usual), and my favorite was the gravestone with the farm in the background. I was glad to see Steve walking and hope that means his new hip is doing well!
Fred and Lucy,
Steve is doing very well wit his new hip; he’s had no trouble at all since the original recovery time, expect for some rare achiness. He and I are both grateful for the miracle of medicine.
I love the gravestone with the farm in the background too; glad you enjoyed it.
What a perfectly wonderful place to recharge and refresh! You seem to have that same gift of hospitality. It must run in the family.😊
Lisa,
I’m assuming this comment was meant for Deb. I agree!
Hospitality is a beautiful thing.
Fortunately, no security or airport incidents for me. I don’t fly frequently but have had a few memorable moments. My first flight was a business trip from Atlanta to Newark and we ran into a storm, enough so that the pilot came on instructing everyone including crew to buckle sit and buckle there seat belts. It got a little rough, but nothing major. On a different business trip, our landing at Raleigh/RDU was so rough/bumpy the air masks fell out of the ceiling. And the last time I flew to West Virginia the small plane (30-40 seats) from Atlanta to Lewisburg was completely full (it was a Friday and several people were going to a wedding and a group of young men were going mountain biking), but coming back there were THREE passengers. That was a different experience. I so enjoy your photos – you have such an interesting way of looking at things thru your lens and some of your contrast and colors in these were just spectacular! I hope you have a wonderful week.
SueEllen,
I can’t imagine being on an airline when the oxygen masks fall from the ceiling. Yikes!
I must say I’d love to be on a plane with just three passengers. So fun.
Thanks for your compliments on my photos; it fills up my soul to get to take and share photos.
Love those pictures. Much like Minnesota. I had posted on Facebook a picture I took of a trail my husband and I take about 3 days a week (which will soon have to wait for us in the spring) and called it the yellow brick road because the trees were all yellow and the path was infiltrated by many leaves. Slowly but surely those trees are almost bear because of winds. Love to fly but it has been at least 4 years since we have flown any where. But yes, what a difference in smaller airports – you feel a little freer. Hard to believe that woman took so long to give you your license back but “thanks for the compliment?”
Sharyn,
Oh, I can just imagine that path you and your husband walk on. My favorite thing is to walk on leaves while having leaves falling all around. I LOVE seeing leaves fall; a beauty al their own.
Beautiful pictures of Wisconsin. I have never been there except for driving over a bridge from Duluth, Minnesota just to say I’d been in Wisconsin.
My story about security doesn’t involve TSA really. I traveled to Atlanta from Tampa regularly for my job from 2011-2013. One time I was going to be in Atlanta the entire work week so I brought both my work and personal laptops. The afternoon I was going home, I packed up and went to the airport. When I got to security to pull my laptops out, I realized I had not put my work laptop in my laptop bag. I had already turned in my rental car and wouldn’t have had time to get to the office (north part of metro area) from the airport (south part of metro area) anyhow. Fortunately, I had allowed plenty of time so the market president hopped in his car and brought it to me. Needless to say, I was pretty stressed by the time I made it on the plane.
I don’t have a lot on my calendar for this week; however, I am taking over the financial aspects of our HOA. The management company we had managing our finances was not doing a great job – checks were routinely late for some of our vendors, lots of turnover in accounts payable people, etc. So today I spent over two hours at the bank setting up new accounts. Then I spent the biggest part of the afternoon creating an invoice for a special assessment we are doing. I’m learning QuickBooks on the fly and will be doing more transitional work this week.
Phyllis,
Let me just say I that I am seriously in awe of you.
Anyone who can just take over the financial aspects of something, set up new accounts creating invoices and “learning QuickBooks” on the fly is way, way up on my list of people to admire! I know your gifts and skills are greatly appreciated by the people around you.
I had a similar experience at airport security here in Chicago a number of years ago. I had gastric bypass surgery but really didn’t think about how different from my license I might look. The TSA kept looking at me then my license then back at me. I was getting pretty nervous and then mentioned that I had gastric bypass surgery and they said okay but you should get your license updated. When I got back to work after vacation, I walked over to the DMV and the officer asked me “What information are you changing?” I said “My weight”. He said “Ma’am we don’t change your license for a weight change!” I said “Could you please take a look at my original weight and picture?” He took a look, did a double take, and said “Okay step up to the camera “. I just smiled and said “Thank you “. I had gone from 404 to 225 lbs so there was quite a big change! 😆
Mary,
I can only imagine the sense of satisfaction you had getting that second photograph taken. Good changes in your life–so worth celebrating!
I would have loved to have seen the look on the man’s face at DMV. 🙂
We live down the road from CWA. We sometimes fly out of there but other times it is too expensive and we opt for Green Bay or Madison. But they are also smaller and easy to get in and out of.
You came at a good time. Most of our leaves are gone and snow is predicted for tonight.
Ellen,
Yes, it can definitely be more expensive but I try to find a doable price when I can. It’s 40 minutes from the Maniks instead of the 2-hour trip to Madison so really nice.
Enjoy that snow! We had a 20-degree drop in temp overnight here.
I’m so glad to see that it’s a happier post this week. I still feel so bad about all the difficult things you guys had to endure. Thankfully, better days generally come after the bad ones.
It’s always so fun to see the resulting photos from your backroad excursions when you’re here! You capture such interesting perspectives and unexpected beauty. Loved the curious cows. I noticed they did seem to have settled down when I drove by a herd the other day. I stopped and reassured them that the crazy camera lady from NC wouldn’t be back till probably next year. They seemed grateful. 😁
As always, we loved having you guys here! But then it seems like a few minutes go by and it’s time to say good bye again. I hate good byes! They make me so sad. But I suppose I have to be all mature and not whine and just be grateful for the time we had…….but no. I think further whining is in order. It’s therapeutic you know.
A little TSA story I have is when we flew to NC to see you guys this past spring. They flagged my carry on bag and pulled it and me aside for further inspection. Turns out the suspicious object was my Bible in its fabric carrying case. The guy holds it aloft and I said, “Oh, that’s just my Bible.” He smiles, sort of relieved, and says, “Well, that’s still ok.” Yeah well, thanks guy. Glad you still approve.
Can’t wait till you can fly back into our little airport again! We and the cows will be waiting for you! 😊❤️
Love, Deb
Deb,
Thanks for trekking through the countryside and calming the cows for me. I do appreciate your efforts!
I hadn’t heard that story about your Bible being flagged. I’m sure it would be a nice thing for a TSA agent to find after all the other stuff he sees all day long.
Thanks for whining about our absence . . . it means a lot! 🙂
Last year I was flying from Raleigh to Wichita, KS to visit my son and when my husband dropped me off at RDU he gave me a pack of gum and without thinking I put it in my pants pocket. Well, in going through security, they picked up something suspicious in my pocket so I had to step aside and they patted me down in front of everyone, it was very very embarrassing and a bit invasive….I understand the reasoning behind it but wow…..I will never do that again!
Dale,
Yeah, I got patted down too, on the way to WI. They did ask if I wanted a privacy screen but I didn’t mind that much. I’m surprised gum showed up as suspicious on a scan. Ya never know!
The Wisconsin countryside is just beautiful and you capture it so well! I can’t get enough of the fall colors! We really have some gorgeous countryside to look at where we live and I marvel at it daily. At 20 degrees this morning, those beautiful leaves will really be falling!!
For years, every time we went through security, my husband would get pulled aside and given the full-blown pat down. We’d all laugh later and began calling him Achmed since his hair was black and his skin was dark. (He’s 50 percent Greek) TSA probably thought he looked like a terrorist. They leave him alone now that his hair is gray. 😊
Looking forward to picking the grandkids up from school on Tuesday afternoon and spending Halloween with them!
LeeAnne,
Well your husband has discovered a benefit of being gray! I, for one, am still hiding my grays.
Enjoy your afternoon with the grands!
As always you photos are spectacular. You know how to capture the light and objects just right. I also love those little airports. We leave our little airport to go to the big airport and they are just not as fun.
I haven’t had too many security problems. I do remember one or two where the guard was really studying my bag in the xray. Then called over a second guard. While I am sweating and wondering what I had that would cause such examination… Once the second guard asked, “Do you have anything else to declare besides ‘starfish’! I had two ornaments made with starfish. Another time the second guard looked at the first like they were nuts and said, “they are railroad spikes”. I collect fallen by the tracks railroad spikes and had found some on my travels. I have also learned you cannot take snowglobes in a carryon. Thankfully the guard allowed me to keep it as I must not have looked like a threat and I said it was for my great niece. Maybe he had kids and knew their dissappointment when not getting a promised treat.
My week is a slow one with not much running around to do. Blessings on your week.
Patti,
Who knew that snow globes were taboo? Between those, railroad spikes, and starfish, you have kept your TSA people on their toes!
Thanks for your nice compliment about my photos.
I love that fall color in Wisconsin! I went to Wausau in June and the green color was pretty then too!
Sarah,
Yes, so many trees and fields there and green is intoxicating!
Oh what LOVELY LOVELY photos! I also enjoy wandering through old cemeteries, wondering about the people who once lived and what they did and if they still have people who remember them.
The Tallest Trees. What an interesting way to think of being the “oldest” in the family. I like it. 🙂
Stefanie,
I’ve heard it said that you’re never really forgotten until people no longer speak your name. Cemeteries are full of thoughts like that. Reminders about life and death and all that’s inbetween.
I just visited my son in Cleveland, Ohio this past weekend. While it has more than 7 gates, I too enjoyed that there were no whistles or screaming people yelling for us to hurry up. Charlotte is my home airport, and I despise how you are screamed at to hurry up. My husband and I moved away from the Charlotte area a couple of years ago, and our new “home” airport is Wilmington, NC. It is a small airport with no bustling cars and just one terminal. Love it. I enjoyed seeing your pictures from Wisconsin. I enjoyed some similar views this weekend. Beautiful fall trees. But my most favorite site this weekend was my son, who I don’t get to see nearly often enough!
Laura,
Yes, I’d have to agree that Charlotte (despite its rows of rocking chairs) is not the most pleasant airport in the world. Glad you get to enjoy the Wilmington airport instead. And hooray for getting to see your son! Such a treasured time.
It was a great time away and a particularly good post.
Steve,
Thanks for taking the adventure with me!