I was the lucky winner flying MSN-LGA at the end of October 2001--I've had other pre- and post- security check scrutiny of varying intensity, but this sticks out because of the timing. They randomly pulled me and a few others out of line at the gate, patted me down, went through my bags, asked me silly questions... This was probably before the TSA was established, or at least before they had set procedures, and the whole thing seemed pretty bumbling and pointless. (has anything changed?)

That evening's flight path into the city took us over the the still-smoldering remains of the WTC. In those early days after 9/11 most of us were a little more tolerant of heightened "security".