Picture it! Metro Detroit airport; Its July of 2001 and I’m preparing to go on only the 3rd flight in my life and I’m going alone, as barely an adult. In June I had flown to New York, thinking back to that and the events that occurred only a few months later, I consider myself lucky to have had this experience when I did.

The process of flying had not yet changed for the world.

I think back on that flight, and the many flights I’ve taken since then and reflect on how much more complex the process it. Thankfully my daughter has accompanied me on at least 4 flights in the past few years, so she has some fresh experience to draw on to guide her. And she’s older than I was when I took my first solo trip.

But even with all the things she has going for her, I can’t help to think about how much the world has changed since my journey (even since the start of this year). When she first started talking about this trip there had already been the cuts to the FAA, which has my anxiety up about my upcoming trips. And then there are all the issues with ICE, which up until recently I didn’t think would be a problem for her since she’s the complexion of new fallen snow, but as of late that doesn’t seem to make any difference. And there is the fact that she has pink hair which is like a spotlight for prejudice depending on where you are.

I don’t know what to expect for her. I find myself wondering if, even thought she is traveling domestically, should I have her take the same kind of precautions with her mobile device as I would suggest if she were traveling abroad?

Some part of my brain is trying to tell me that I’m overreacting and that its just the anxiety of something new… and that I’m being a worry wart like my mother always said she was. (It seems like the older I get, the list of things that cause anxiety just keeps growing)

What do you think? Am I off my rocker, or are those precautions reasonable given the political climate?

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