He waited in the lobby for her for two hours. He called her room three times, nervous when she didn't answer, and made quick trips back to his own room to check his phone there for messages when he discovered we couldn't access voicemail for any of the rooms from our consoles.

Toward the end of the two hours, he sat in a chair in the lobby, glancing at his watch. He'd given up pacing.

And then she showed up. She was at the desk, asking for him, before he noticed her, but when she turned, he was at her elbow.

She's not beautiful. He's not the most handsome man I've ever seen -- his nose is too prominent, she is mousy. The kind who sat at a table by themselves all through school, no doubt. But I saw the look on each of their faces when she turned to see him standing there, when he moved to stand beside her. They never touched each other; he reached out halfway, then stopped. They turned, and walked away, and that was the last I saw of them or will see of them, no doubt.

I'm having trouble forgetting them. I keep seeing the look that passed between them ... and remembering what it felt like when I wore it myself.

It feels like forever, tonight.

For the record, I love our Southwest crews.

Pilot: checking out of room 906. *flips card onto counter.*
C: yes, sir. you're all set, have a safe flight.
Pilot: (surprised) thanks. when does your shift end?
C: seven. couple of hours to go yet.
Pilot: gonna go home to the husband, cook him a big Sunday breakfast?
C: *chuckle* not likely. you have a good day, hmm?

I walked back into the back to fix some paperwork, he turned away. then I heard "oh, little girl... little girl, I've got some candy for you." He was standing with his crew at the desk, and he did, indeed, have a bag of candy in his hand. I laughed. "I don't think my Mommy would like that." The female co-pilot grinned. "oh, it's all right. you can trust him." He gave candy to everyone in the lobby, with the woman joking that her Mommy didn't train her right as she accepted hers. (There's a TasteTations chocolate mint candy on my dresser right now.) ;) I don't usually wonder where the guests are going when they leave us. Sometimes I'm even just glad to see them on their way. But with the Southwest crews, more than anyone else, it seems, they take some of the sunshine with them when they go. I like my job: they genuinely seem to love theirs. And it's not every airline crew. Continental and America West crews are often sullen. Northwest aren't, but they don't match the sheer joy and fun I see so often in the Southwest crews. I'm remembering all the times when Southwest have come in and stood around talking at the counter long after they've signed in, when other crews sign in and walk away, often not bothering to find out where their other crewmembers are staying before they go to their rooms. Southwest seem like family. Squabbles and all. And the ones who don't, don't come back many times.

I hope they had a safe flight.