Recombobulating in Milwaukee
Have you ever tried joking around with the TSA employees at the airport? Those that have, typically end up going through a more thorough than typical evaluation often behind closed doors. So I recommend being polite and humorless as you go through the TSA airport screen. Not that the TSA is completely humorless.
Just beyond the screening area at the Milwaukee County Airport, the TSA has graciously provided a Recombobulation Area.
Just what is recombobulation you may ask….the act of recombobulation is to put back into order or removing confusion. With the new TSA screening procedures that require removal of your shoes, everything from your pockets, and with your carry-on thrown into disarray as you remove your computer and liquids, I certainly feel out of sorts just after going through airport screening. From what I can tell, seems as if this is a state of discombobulation.
Getting back to normal is then to recombobulate. Now once you are recombobulated are you combobulated? The answer is no because there is no such word as combobulate.
Seems as if the word “discombobulate” sprung up on it’s own independent of any previous words, with no Latin or Greek origins. It apparently formed as a joking alteration of “discompose” or “discomfit” — terms for confusing or upsetting a person. There then was no true word recombobulate or combobulate.
Wow, who ever said the TSA is humorless, they pulled a fast one at the Milwaukee Airport even coining a new word. I understand the “Recombobulation Area” sign has become very popular with travelers going through Milwaukee. Popular enough that combobulate and recombobulate are on their way to become accepted words.
MD Leader 
May 28, 2013 at 6:00 AM
You forgot to mention that they make you take off your belt too. Which is why, when I fly, I wear elastic waist pants that don’t even have pockets, slip-on shoes and no jewelry. Makes my life easier.
I just got back from Africa, and none of the airport security people I encountered had any sense of humor whatsoever. What a miserable job that would be!
May 28, 2013 at 7:40 AM
Chris, thanks again for visiting my blog on a regular basis. I as well plan in anticipation of traveling through the discombobulation zone – I take my belt, keys, wallet, cell phone and loose change and place it inside my backpack to make the traverse just a little less confusing.