Southwest Airlines Community

Today is the start of a new chapter of your life at SMU! Hopefully this will be the start of good things to come for the Mustangs, maybe one day you'll be as good as the Horned Frogs (Just Kidding). Annual Meeting will never be the same, neither will Halloween. Your quirky sense of humor has always kept us on our toes. Whether it's allowing people a laugh on your behalf (Annual Meeting) or helping people laugh at themselves as they make mistakes. You help us realize that life's too important to be too serious. Behind the "Sweet Mistique" lives a quiet individual who works hard behind the scenes, with his passion for the cause driving him towards his ultimate goal of success. Whether it's helping a struggling airline become one of the best in the industry or helping a struggling University back on its feet after being handed one of the most devistating blows to its athletic program. Quote from Richard, "Success is not an option when your follow your passion." We'll see you on the company plane...by the way, has anyone talked to you about the benefits of SWABIZ? ... View more

My mouth dropped open and I thought..."What in the world?" Sitting in a hotel room in San Diego I couldn't believe what I was seeing on the TV. I had just finished working on an event for Southwest and wasn't scheduled to leave San Diego until two days later but something inside me said "You have to get home." It seemed like everyone didn't know how to react or what to do. Quickly the other Employees I was with got on the phone to try and locate a cheap deal on any rental car that was available. Luckliy we were told we had reserved the last car in the city. As we checked out of our hotel and got into a cab to take us to the airport to get our rental car we were in awe at how the entire city on a work day was dead silent. On a normal day the city would be bustling with traffic and noise but today an erie silence hung in the air. As we checked with the rental car agency we were greeted with an almost empty parking lot of cars. Many cars had already begun their journey home. As we prepared for the long journey from California to Texas we weren't sure what we would encounter or how long it would take us. While many Americans were glued to their Television sets our ears were our eyes as we listened to the radio stations broadcast the devistation that had captured our nation. Along the way we saw long lines of cars waiting for gas, we encountered border stops (since we were traveling along the US border) with national gardsmen armed with automatic guns. Many places of business and restaurants were closed as people had left to be with their families. When we arrived at a hotel at 1:30 in the morning we were finally able to see with our eyes what we had been hearing over the radio. The gruesome pictures of the aftermath gave us pause as we stared in horror of the ruins. The bright lights shined on the spot where two mighty buidlings of steel had once stood. We made it home the next day and were happy to be back with our own famlies and our Southwest family. America had changed at least for a while. Patriotism was high. Flags were flying off the shelves as people rushed to show their American colors on their cars and at home. Public displays of affection were rampant as people cried, hugged, kissed, waved, shook hands, patted backs. Driving was pleasurable instead of feeling you had to fend for your life on the highway. Family values mattered, people mattered. I wish we could go back to the days after the attacks, not to relive the horror but to remember what it was like to live in a county that cared for each other and feel proud to call myself an "American." ... View more