View from Cincinnati Airport Terminal
Go through your phone book, call people and ask them to drive you to the airport. The ones who will drive you are your true friends. The rest aren’t bad people; they’re just acquaintances. (Jay Leno)
I’ve always loved this quote from Jay Leno because it’s so true.
My first Christmas in Cincinnati, when I had just started at F+W, I didn’t have any friends—but I needed someone to drive me to the airport. So I asked my manager at the time, Greg Albert. He is such a kind-hearted man that he agreed—I believe it was even on Christmas Day. I still think about that moment.
If it’s the airport drop-off that tells you who your true friends are, it’s the airport pick-up that can tell you who your true loves are.
While married, every time I returned to Cincinnati airport, my husband would be waiting at the gate (when that was still permitted—remember those days?), or right at security. He was never late. He was always there. His face always brightened up when he spotted me.
You know a relationship has transformed when the small details change … when the pick-up routine changes.
During our final months together, when returning from a trip, I wasn’t greeted even at baggage claim. I waited for my luggage to pop out while listening to my iPod, pretending not to care. (Why do we always pretend so much?)
The Conductor is not a punctual man, so he’s not always at security waiting for me, but he’s definitely rushing in that direction.
However, when returning from my last trip, he texted me as I walked through the terminal to the security point, and informed me that he was in the cell phone lot. He would pick me up outside once I had my bag.
Downgraded to the cell phone lot!
Yes, The Conductor and I sometimes have difficult moments (weeks) (months). Maybe I hadn’t realized how difficult a time we’d recently experienced.
Of course, after he performed the drive-by, I had to immediately inform him that I’d never had a significant other use the cell-phone lot with me. His very rational explanation was that it was 15 degrees outside, and he knew how much I hated to walk in the cold.
Fair enough. Plus he had a nice bottle of water waiting for me inside the very toasty car.
Nevertheless, a shift. It hurt.
About Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman is a full-time assistant professor of e-media at the University of Cincinnati, and the former publisher of Writer's Digest. She has spoken on writing, publishing, and the future of media at more than 200 events since 2001, including South by Southwest, BookExpo America, and the Association of Writers and Writing Programs.
