Well, Ive been trying to lighten up as instructed. I've been on the record many times about the situation, but if you want to hear it again.

I was against any acquisition from the start. I was obviously not consulted, just as I'm sure you were not.

I expected the union that represents me to earn their dues revenue and protect my best interests to the best of their ability. I expected nothing less than their best effort to secure the best deal they thought possible in the specific situation with the specific set of circumstances.

I was one man with one vote and I voted in a manner that I saw fit to best protect my career and my family.

In the end I was only a pawn in this big chess game. I was not on the Board of Directoes that approved the deal. I was not on the negotiating commitee that brokered a deal between the unions. My biggest part of this was my one vote.

I fully realize that the folks on the AirTran side had just as little influence or even less than I in this process. I have no ill will toward any of them and will welcome them to the Southwest side of the partition.