I often wonder where loyalty has gone in the world today. I consider myself a very loyal person to friends, family, colleagues, clients, etc., etc., etc., and yet that loyalty does not always result in the same in return these days.

I surround myself with a very select group of people that I consider friends the same way I believe in devotion to my clients. I don’t hold close more people than I can devote my time to, and I never cast aside a client or a vendor when they have moved on. I go to the same dentist I have gone to for over 10 years, and until recently I patronized the same physician. Loyalty; it is more than a word to me.

I don’t ask friends to do anything I wouldn’t do for them in return and will take their secrets to my grave; even when divulging might benefit me. And although I am not a person with a plethora of secrets myself, I know my friends will do the same. I hold family secrets I have not disclosed and will not until necessary and when they can either no longer do harm or must be told to prevent harm. Loyalty - plain and simple.

There was a time when people would fly the same airline because of quality of service and frequent flyer points, but those times have passed as we see less service and mileage points become impossible to redeem. People that still exhibit this allegiance are truly loyal souls, and I, silly enough, am still part of that group; loyal to the end. Call me crazy, but that is just me. Back in my airline days I remember hearing from friends that stuck with Pan Am until its last gasp. They even recalled pilots who willingly gave concession after concession just to keep the old lady flying . THAT is loyalty.

Loyalty. It may see like an ancient and simple word from a Webster’s Dictionary, but it is oh so much more. Although rarely seen in the 21st century, it exists.

-Morissa Pawl, vice president western region