SFAA - Episode 4 - Providence

* * * 'SFAA' is 'Scenes From An Airport'. Everyone knows a "road warrior", or at minimum, is familiar with the concept. The strong-willed business man, that spends more time in the seat of a plane, than sleeping in their own bed. I know one, and these are his stories. He’s my guest writer.* * *

When I arrived in Providence it was late and I did not pay much attention to the airport, except to note it was small, sixteen gates I think.

When I arrived at 5 a.m this morning for my flight out I was confused. It was the same small airport, but when I got in line for security I thought I was at Chicago O'Hare. It wasn't that there were a ton of passengers, in fact, I walked right up, but it was the number of security lines and TSA agents.

Keep in mind that at Austin-Bergstrom at 5 a.m. there may be as few as 2 security lines open and at full capacity there are maybe 7 or 8. Providence Airport, which is called T.F. Green, had 7 security lines…that is one for every 2.2 departure gates! That was not as shocking as the number of TSA agents, again, remember this is 5 a.m. Each security line had a minimum of 6 TSA agents. 1 where you put your bags on the conveyor that was checking tickets, then there were 2 looking at the X-Ray monitor, another 1 to usher you through the metal detector, then there were 2 more where you collected your belongings. There were additional agents in "wand" areas and others floating around. I stopped counting at 50 TSA agents.

The weather just came on the TV…"It is going to be a warm day." High of 73 today! Wow that is hot! It made me wish that sort of Global Warming would make its way to Austin. I guess it is all relative since it will be the last 70+ degree day they see until next summer.

By the way, this area of the country is beautiful this time of year. I was told there were 45 mile traffic jams over weekend of people going "leaf peeping." That is what they called it…seriously.

I may start a supplement called "Scenes driving around a college campus." I drove around two Northeast institutions this week. I happened to stay at the Marriot at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and then next to Brown University in Providence. I am sure these kids are getting a fantastic education and will become the leaders of the free world, but I must say, people in Texas are just better looking.