Does Merger = Loss?

I don't understand my reaction to a corporate merger.  Northwest Airlines and Delta have announced their intent to merge.  This is not a shock.  It's been in the news for months, and it has been the subject of much conversation and commentary.

So yesterday it was announced.  The merger is on, and in a year or so, barring any disruption from the Department of Justice, the familiar logo and look of nwa is going to vanish from the skyscape.  

So why am I bothered by this?

Yes, there are the obvious concerns about our local economy, the jobs lost, etc...

Yes, there is concern about the level of competition (which never was very level in the Twin Cities anyway)

Yes, there is the concern about the cost of travel.

But frankly, (and this makes almost no sense to me) I think I'm going to miss them.  I grew up on Northwest.  I remember the radio commercials:  "Northwest Orient...Airlines."  My Dad traveled 1-2 weeks per month when I was growing up.  So I went to the airport a lot to drop off and/or pick up.  I got my worldperks card the same year I graduated from high school.  I've watched the red-tailed airplanes flying over my home and community all of my life.

Is it possible that I feel grief over an airline?

Perhaps it's more likely that I grieve the role it played in my life and the life of lots of good people around me.  

I don't completely understand it.

But NWA, RIP.

The Winter that will not End

I am normally not one of those people who are complaining about the weather.  I always figured that if people can't handle a Minnesota winter, they should move somewhere else...Indiana, or Missouri, or somewhere a little wimpier in its winter.

And really, our winters have come down in intensity in the last 20 years too.  I don't want to sound old when I say this (though I will), but I remember typically 2-3 seriously kick-butt winter storms/blizzards every winter when I was growing up.  There would be a run on the grocery store...people would stock up on batteries...and the snow would come and would turn country highways into "chutes" after the plows went through.  

I seriously don't remember the last time that happened.

So, all that being said, I don't want to come across as too wimpy.  BUT...would this winter just END please?  I mean, for Pete's sake, it's April 10!  Our lawn was green...well...er...crud gray... at noon today.  Now it's back to white.  

After I get back from Jamaica every late March, I'm pretty much ready for spring to begin.  HELLO!  It's April 10 today!  Any time now...

Ok, I'm done griping.