On the Road
with Rachel Hendrickson

This column is going to be a bit different than my usual one. The phrase "on the road" has taken on a new meaning for me.

Over the course of the year, I travel a fair amount on NEA business, primarily by air, visiting members, campuses, and affiliates. Usually my primary concern about flying is "Will my baggage arrive on the same plane?" This is followed by the secondary concern: "Will I make my connection?"

The events of September 11 have changed my priorities and those, I suspect, of many frequent flyers nationwide.

I used to finely time my arrival at airports—a certain amount of time to stand in line, x minutes to get through security, muttering under my breath when a pin or button sets off the security gate or when I have to demonstrate that my computer powers up the way it's supposed to. All that is over.

It's not just air travel that will change. Our sense of security has been shaken. We here at the NEA could see the tower of smoke from the Pentagon. For days, helicopters and jets were on constant over-fly of sensitive areas of the city. There were MPs in humvees stationed on each block. I've had to think about different ways to get out of the city if some streets or bridges are blocked.

I will go to the airport, now, understanding that I need to reconcile my normal irritation with government intrusion into civil life with a need for security and safety in the face of threats by madmen.

After a while, some security measures will slacken. That's only natural. But my comfortable routine of travel is over forever. Still, I will go ... on the road. See you soon.

—Rachel Hendrickson coordinates higher education services for NEA.