One of my primary goals in life is to avoid all lines. I have actually become quite adept at this and the only line I have not been able to find a way to consistently circumvent is security.

This usually is a most pressing problem when I am running like a madwoman for a standby flight. On those occasions when I am truly panicked and there is a long security line, I simply go to the front of the line and say, "I am about to miss my connection. Would it be ok with all of you if I cut ahead just this once?"

They are always happy to help me out. I guess that's one of the advantages of being an old lady who looks like she might be having a heart attack after running through an airport.