Is a w a s i g n t h a t s a i d , “Recombobulation Area,”
after Margaret and I passed through security at the Mitchell
Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I wasn’t sure if I had ever even
seen the word before, but was pretty sure that I knew what it
meant. Upon returning home, I looked for it in a few dictionaries,
where I couldn’t find “recombobulation,” or anything even resembling
the word. Then, it occurred to me that it must be somehow a reference
to “discombobulate,” a word I am all too familiar with, as it means
to confuse or upset. I soon realized that “dis” was not a prefix to the
word, as there is no verb “combobulate.” This makes sense,
since words like disturbed and discernment do not have bases
such as “turbed” or “cernment,” not to mention dismembered, which
hardly leads one to think they can be “membered” by adding an extra
arm or leg.
All of that being said, I return to my original premise that,
although “recombobulate” is not an “official” word, it should
be. In fact, we could all use a “recombobulation” area at both
home and work. It could serve as our grownup time-out space for
whenever we get upset, confused, disoriented or angry. This would be
similar to rebooting a computer, when it gets stuck in some mode. But,
instead of rebooting ourselves, we could just recombobulate by
taking the time to put ourselves back in order, readjust our
attitudes and try to remember that whatever we are going through
isn’t personal. (I just threw that in because I like the phrase).
Certainly, having the items you wish to carry on a plane returned
to you in a gray plastic bin, after having carefully removed them to go
through an X-ray machine, requires a place where you can slip on
your shoes, replace your belt and watch, put your pen and glasses
in your pocket, reinsert your laptop into its protective case, rearrange
your carry-on luggage, and so on. The process is confusing, frustrating
and, yes, discombobulating. The worst part is standing there after we
recombobulate ourselves, trying to make sure we have not forgotten
anything and that everything has been returned to its proper place.
It’s easy to feel like the stressful ordeal we go through these days in
order to board a plane really isn’t necessary; and that even if it is, we
should have some special exclusion from it. After all, we know that
we are not a threat and feel the TSA workers should somehow
know that.
The next time you are confused, or need to reassemble something so
that it will work, stop and recombobulate. And, if someone asks you what
you are doing, just tell them its something new you learned at the
airport. Remember, however, that after passing through airport
security, “Recombobulate this!” is not a sanctioned comment, even in
Milwaukee.
I’m not myself today and everybody has noticed the improvement 9