Hyper-vigilant

Hyper
- A prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “over,” usually implying excess or exaggeration.

Vigilant
-adjective. keenly watchful to detect danger; wary: a vigilant sentry. 2)ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful.

I know I'm breaking the pattern by using a double-barelled word, but it's about the only trend I'll be able to break today. I'm traveling to Bangor and hyper-vigilance has descended on NYs La Guardia airport. 

Now that I am on the plane, and can reflect, it is possible that security is a little 'tighter' given it's the final day of the UN meeting in New York.

However, I am told (while I wait in endless queues at airports), that Hyper-vigilance is commonplace,especially when you travel, in the USA. From one line, to another, to another. The Americans have a wonderful way of coralling people into lines, that appear to have an end, but only send you to another line that is out of sight. I call these 'groundhog lines'.

Today's groundhog line was security. One Coralled area of a couple of hundred people, then another identical human cattle coral, and then a nice little treat - an x-ray (me), complete security check including explosive screening, and then a good ol' fashioned 'pat- down', rubber gloves and all! It was the most personal attention I had received for some time!

The male security officer pulled me aside (personal niceties not required) and yelled 'female assistance'! What? Do I look like I need assistance? I'm the only one here without brobdignagian hand luggage! And I got the full treatment, including thorough inspection of my hair. Not interested in  my offer to show them my scars,  they 'inspected' me, dread by dread, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot. 

As I leave the United States, I promise to be hyper-vigilant about my posts. To those of you I dissapointed with a 'photo only' post yesterday, I promise, to continue to share my stories of New York, and my Canadian adventure as it unfolds.  Stay tuned.