Never Can Say Goodbye

The guy bought his ticket with cash. He wasn't carrying any luggage. None. On a trip from Nigeria to Amsterdam to Detroit. Oh, and his father told the CIA that they should be looking out for him, since he was acting like a terrorist. Hanging out with them. Talking like them. And this was the guy who almost blew up his undies and everyone else on board Northwest flight 253. At least it wasn't his shoes. We've got that much on the ball at least.
As a result, our president has declared that the anti-terror buck stops with him. It's time to learn from our mistakes and to create a more safe and secure planet for those of us who aren't terrorists. What about young lovers? Flights were delayed across the globe this past Sunday and Newark Liberty International Airport was shut down for several hours because of the extended farewell that was allowed by a security guard leaving his post "for just a few seconds." Long enough for this young paramour to find his lady love and walk back up an exit ramp into the secure area of the airport.
Did I say "secure?" Apparently while all the conscientious among us are standing in line, slipping off our shoes, having our babies frisked, and behaving like cattle, those clever, amorous or adventuresome folks are looking for those little holes that still exist in the ultra-tight net of security. And when they do, the rest of us in line stop. And wait. While the system works. The system that gets the barn door tightly closed while the livestock mill around in the International Terminal.
Back in the olden days, before the troubles, one of the best dates my wife and I ever had was when we drove down to the airport and had dinner at the Tower Lounge. Afterward, we wandered around "reading departure signs at some big airport." It reminded us of places we'd been. We weren't breaking any rules. We weren't breaching anything. We were young and in love. We're still in love, but when we go looking for romance, we stay away from the airport. It's just too stressful.