I actually received TWO Fedex packages from NW today.

Of course in true NW fashion, one was at my old address and one was at my new address.

I was pleasantly surprised at the contents of those packages.

The first was my (belated) 20 year service pin.

And in the second ...

A piece of aircraft aluminum in the shape of a 747 vertical stab. A piece of ship number 6622, the last passenger 747 to fly scheduled service at NW.

The company actually took the time to take pieces of aluminum from that last ship after its retirement and mount them with inscriptions and then sent them to every NW pilot that ever flew the 747 classic at NW.

The 20 year pin I could give a rats a$$ about, but the aluminum marks the end of an aviation era and I am actually pleased to receive it as a gift.