Back to New England for Thanksgiving

I just arrived back in Brookline for a quick visit over Thanksgiving. I’ll be returning to Seattle on Sunday.
U.S. newspapers and TV always make a great fuss about the fact that the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. These reports are inevitably accompanied by film of long lines at airport security, and interviews with frustrated people who’ve been stranded somewhere.
My experience today was… different. I caught a bus from Seattle to the airport, which arrived on time. I’d checked in online, and I only had a carry-on bag, so I walked up to one of the security checkpoints. There was nobody there, except for some bored TSA staff. Several of them competed for the chance to inspect my photo ID, and then advised me to go to a particular X-ray/metal detector because “they haven’t had any customers.” As I approached, three TSA staff sprang to attention, offered me plastic trays for my lap-top and my shoes, and waved me through the metal detector with a smile.
It all felt very strange… and rather spooky.
After that, everything went beautifully. I had time to hang out at the Red Carpet Clubs in Seattle and Chicago. My flight to Chicago was full, but conditions were smooth and it arrived 30 minutes early. My connection to Boston was 60% full, and arrived on time. Everything was completely uneventful (the highest accolade).
I’m still trying to work it out. Maybe it’s just me.

Music and reading made it all even more pleasant. At Seattle I found the new Jack McDevitt novel, Seeker, which came out in paperback a couple of weeks ago. I’ve already reached page 176. And for the first part of the SEA-ORD flight I got out my iPod and listened to Concrete: In Concert at the Mermaid Theatre by the Pet Shop Boys, which arrived from Amazon.co.uk last week. Most of it is excellent: the only problems are a couple of the “special guests” who aren’t all that special. But the rest is outstanding; Neil is in great form, and the sound (with a live orchestra) is wonderful. Highly recommended.