I'm sitting here in the Richmond airport and I'm about to burst with pride. I just had to have someone to share this with, and, well, it looks like you're the one.

Now, before I tell you what happened just a few minutes ago, I do need to confess something about myself. I have this neurotic need to be liked. Actually, it's more than being liked. I want people to think I'm the best they've ever seen, at whatever I do.

For instance, if I go to the barber shop and the barber tells me to sit real still, I will freeze like a statue. I can hold my breath for up to three minutes at a time, so even my breathing doesn't perturb him. My goal is for my barber to tell me that I'm the best at sitting still that he has ever seen.

It's the same when I go to the dentist. When the dentist says, "Open wide," I practically unhinge my jaw in order to accommodate him.  I make enough room for him to not only get whatever tools he needs in my mouth, but, he could, if he so desired, put that whole tray in my mouth.  No dentist has ever told me that I have the biggest mouth he has ever seen, but I'm hoping that day will come.

So, with that little personal portrait painted, I'm sure you can share the joy I experienced when I went through security, here at the airport. As I took my little plastic bag of assorted gels out, and removed my laptop for inspection, the TSA guy says to me, "Do you have anything in your pockets?"

Beaming with pride, I reply, "No sir. I have my little routine. I put everything in my brief case before I get here. That is true, too. It's a little ritual I go through to ensure that I don't get beeped at security for having a gum wrapper or a fountain pen in my pocket.

Well, anyway, when I tell him this, he says to me, "You do it exactly right. I wish we had more passengers like you."

Can you imagine the joy that I felt?  I know I shed a tear or two. I asked him if he had time for me to get a picture of him and me together. But, unfortunately, there were too many people behind me in the line. I was hoping that the others in line  had heard the conversation, but all those I approached, told me they hadn't heard a word. That's too bad.  I would sure like  my fellow travelers to know that I'm the best passenger in the terminal.