01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, May 16, 2006

I approached the security gate at the airport, put my carry-bag on the X-ray belt, then my shoes, my cell and my change. Oh, and my camera. And pen. And sungasses. Just to be sure, I added my watch.

Then I tightened up. It was time to walk through the metal-detector. Even stripped of all metal, would I get through? Or set it off and get sent to one of those head-to-toe wandings?

The security guard motioned. I stepped forward. No buzzer. I made it.

This, of course, was no big deal. Most people make it. Still, it felt at the moment like a great accomplishment.

It got me thinking about similar moments of exultation.

So today, a column about Life's Little Victories:

Making an ATM withdraw from your own bank so you save the $1.50 fee.

Backing into a tight parking space just right the first time.

Cruising at 60 while passing a huge traffic jam on the other side

The flight attendant giving you both a cup of Coke AND the whole can.

Your purchases adding up to exactly $5 so you don't need change.

Even better: Having two cents in your pocket when the price is $9.02.

Getting the hint "Pakistani language" in a crossword puzzle and knowing it's "Urdu."

Making it through the 10-items-or-less express aisle with 11 items.

Filling your car for under $50.

Smoothly catching a tossed set of keys.

Buying red Delicious apples that for once, are actually sweet.

Getting a Southwest Airline boarding pass in the "A" group that gets to board first.

The Blockbuster cashier saying you've earned a free rental.

Finishing an upside-down roller-coaster with your kids to find the motion sickness patch behind your ear actually worked.

Making two or more green lights in a row.

Getting the last paper -- the one in the display cage -- from a newspaper vending machine.

A soda cap telling you that you've won a free bottle of Coke.

Really short people taking the seats in front of you at the movie theater.

A drug prescription that only costs $7.50 instead of $37.50.

Getting a friend's phone welcome message that goes directly to the beep instead of first telling you that you've reached an automatic voice messaging system, that you can push 2 to leave a callback number, and explaining five other options.

Getting to the Jaws ride at Universal and seeing there's no line.

Finding a service station where the gas nozzle can lock on while your car fills so you don't have to squeeze it for three minutes.

Off-the-rack pants that fit.

Pulling up perfectly to a McDonald's Drive-Thru window so you don't have to reach too far for your order.

Tossing a balled-up paper at a trash-can, and sinking it.

Taking a group snapshot where everyone's expression is good, or at least nobody's is dreadful.

Strawberry shortcake on a restaurant dessert menu.

Your cell bill telling you that for once, you did not go over your minutes.

One of those $20-cash-value CVS receipt coupons that makes you feel as if you've won the Powerball.

Being so bad at laundry your wife bans you from doing it.

Spotting a spoon in the garbage disposal before you run it.

Sneaking into the first-class section of the airplane to use the privileged lavatory.

Taking your five-year-old car in for routine maintenance and learning, for a change, that there's nothing major wrong with it.

Amid all that spam, finding an actual personal e-mail.

Finally, that rarest of little victories:

Telling your 14-year-old to get out of bed, and checking 10 minutes later to find he's actually done it.

mpatinkin@projo.com / (401) 277-7370