I was reading my daily online news magazine this morning and several articles caught my attention. The first was about protecting my passport if I traveled out of the US. The article said if I placed my passport in my backpack, while traveling, my backpack might get stolen on my flight if I have to store it in an overhead compartment. Or, if my backpack is too stuffed (usually is) I may be forced to put my backpack into baggage check. If either of these things happen, I am really stuck when I arrive at my destination. I could feel my normally low heart rate kick up a couple beats. I wondered if I could duct tape my passport to my belly or back. That would hurt on the peel off that’s for sure. The next article told me not to trust any of the USB outlets at the airport because someone’s going steal all my money and probably my identity. I don’t have much money, but I like myself so I want to keep my identity. The article went on to say don’t use the airport Wi-Fi because someone will probably hack into my account and get all my passwords and everything else about my life. By this time, my right leg was jumping up and down faster than a cricket’s hind legs in July. A third article told me to join the US state department ‘s STEP or smart traveler enrollment program so I can get alerts if there were any safety issues in the areas I was traveling. Well, I made a note to buy a Kevlar vest and set up 15 minute reminders on my iPhone to reread all the things I shouldn’t do or should do if I want to enjoy my trip. On second thought, I think I’ll skip the trip and go to Starbucks, buy an iced coffee and make snap judgments about everybody else who was in there making snap judgments about me.
