AMERICANWAY

AIR MAIL 100,000 AAdvantage miles for your thoughts. We enjoy reading your thoughts about the magazine — so much so that if your letter to the editor is published in a 2015 issue, you'll be entered into a drawing to win 100,000 AAdvantage miles. To have a chance at the miles, email your thoughts to us at editor@americanwaymag.com. Please include the city and state or the city and country where you live. encountered while working with us travelers. Even the most experienced of road warriors has some level of anxiety that can produce anger, frustration and irritability. I would think it takes an incredible dedication to continue to "respect dif ferences a nd cel- ebrate our similarities as people," as Vicki beautifully put it. Thank you for the inspira- tion. Thank you for the reminder. Jo Bishop, Euless, Texas I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E S O L U T I O N D E S K REPRESENTATIVE VICKI THOMAS RESPONDS: I was deeply touched and humbled by your re- sponse to my article, Jo. The only thing I wanted to accomplish was to inspire, and as you have testified, I have accomplished just that. I hope your life is as rich as mine, and I hope to continue inspiring those who understand that we are here to be of service to others. SNOOPY ART My dad travels reg ularly for work and he on ly f l ies A mer ic a n A i rl i nes, so he f re - quently brings home American Way for our family to flip through. Being 20 years old (and less traveled then I hope to be some- day), the most interesting sections have always been those that describe all of the amazing places I would love to visit and ex- perience one day. However, the September issue contained an article, "The Fine A rt of Snoopy," which caught my interest right away. I immediately felt warm and nostalgic, thinking about the childhood memories I have watching Peanuts in my grandparents' bed, anticipating blueberr y pancakes the next morning. It meant so much to me to see that the art Tom Everhart is creating is also carrying on the legacy of Peanuts. Alyssa Ljubicich, Armonk, New York SENIOR EDITOR JAN HUBBARD RESPONDS: Who could have imagined while watching Peanuts that Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Pigpen and the rest would end up in a museum, Alyssa? Charles M. Schulz was a man who knew not only how to create characters but also a legacy. OPER A GUIDES S omet i mes it i s on ly when you see t he human side of opera that you can appreciate it. So I just loved reading how Isabel Leonard ("Raising Her Voice," August) is doing just that. I fell in love with opera while visiting the ruins of Pompeii. When I entered the site, local older men were offering their services as tour guides to the "beautiful lady." That was me. I wasn't fa lling for their charms (or at least not right away). I got there on my ow n, and I would see it on my ow n as well. After seeing the same archway twice, however, I realized I had been walking in circles. So I found the tour guides near the exit, sing ing back and for th, chiding and laughing, dueling in opera. It was so magical, I almost cried. Now I just love opera (and older Italian men)! Grace Dash, Los Angeles SE NIOR E DITOR AN NA FIALHO BY E RS RE- SPONDS: Sounds like the tour guides in Pompeii are very talented, Grace. When they are working, I wonder if they sing or talk on their tours. Either way, it must be entertaining. UPGR ADE NEEDED My last itinerary took me on an American Airlines/US Airways hybrid trip. I must say of the two publications, I much more enjoyed the American Way style. I hope that it con- tinues as the merger of the airlines moves forward. W hile the US Airways magazine had more in-depth coverage of two specific reg ions of the U. S., I f ind my interest is more piqued by reading the shorter, more entertaining snippets of cool places covered in your magazine. In the September issue, [A merica n A irlines Cha irma n a nd CEO] Doug Parker wrote about the state-of-the- art North Terminal at MIA ("Celebrating 25 Years of the Miami Hub"). My journey took me through Charlotte, North Carolina, and it was a big disappointment, both in terms of amenities and comfort. Small, cramped pas- senger lounges, a lack of dining choices — not to mention the rather long distance and lack of adequate "people movement " bet ween terminals. It is my hope that American and the city of Charlotte undertake the financial commitment and dedication that Miami has received to provide a world-class experience for customers. I am sure I am not alone in A SPECIAL PLACE Tha nk you for w riting a positive feature on Colombia ("A Radical Transformation," September) and about how the countr y is overcoming its negative past. My wife, two daughters and I have been living in Medellín for the last month pursuing the adoption of a precious 5-year-old boy. We quickly took to the city and its wonderful people. While many still hold onto reminders of a violent past, the country has come a long way and is moving toward a brighter future. Anyone looking for a beautiful place to visit should add Colombia to their travel bucket list. It is breathta king, the people are kind, and it is affordable. We are thankful to American Airlines for providing service to Colombia and for helping to facilitate the expansion of our family. You not only connected us with a foreign country, you also connected us to our new son. Brent Buchanan, Pike Road, Alabama WRITER KEVIN DOYLE RESPONDS: Allow me to congratulate you and your family on your happy news, Brent. What a wonderful way to get to know a wonderful place like Medellín. The city, with its vertiginous hills, beautiful parks and the lush surrounding countryside, is indeed breath- taking. The country is swiftly moving forward, and it's time to tell Colombia's new story. I'm glad American Way gave me the opportunity to do so. SATISFIED CUSTOMER I am not one who norma lly w rites to the editor, but I was compelled to do so by Vicki Thomas' moving article in the September issue's "Final Approach" section ("A Life- Changing Career"). I am realizing that a pri- mary goal of our lives is to be in a place where we recognize ourselves in others. No small task and seemingly impossible in Vicki's role as a customer-service representative. I can only imagine the many challenges she has 14 D EC E M B E R 2 01 4 A A .CO M/A M E R I C A NWAY

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