E D I T O R ’ S N O T E
AMERICANWAY
OCTOBER 1 2008
14
said in a heavily accented bari-
tone. I pivoted, and the dread-
lockedman smiled atme. “Enjoy
themoon.”
“That’s an interesting thing
to say,” I said as Kimberly and I
walked back toward him. “What
does itmean?”He stoppedwork-
ing and addressedme like a sage
professor.
“Itmeans nothingmore than
what it says: Look at themoon.
It’s beautiful tonight. You and
your lady should be sure to
enjoy it. After all, the moon
is meant to be enjoyed with
friends,” he said.
The responsemadeKimberly
and me smile. It also made us
realize that we’d been so intent
on the goods of Las Olas, we’d
completely neglected the mas-
sive orange-hued harvest moon
high in the night’s sky. Still,
despite my surprise, there was
something inviting, even some-
thing familiar about hiswords.
Thatwas seven years ago this
summer. From then on, when
my job as a reporter sent me
to lands near and far, I found
myself staring at the moon
each night — a grounding re-
minder of the vendor’s weighty
comment. And even now, as I
write this, my first column as
the new editor of
American
Way
, I think back on the ven-
dor’s abrupt remark as away of
introducingmyself, because:
We havemet before, you and
I.Wecrossedpaths inFortLau-
derdale when I did a turn as a
newspaper reporter. We met
at White Rock Lake in Dallas
while jogging on a March af-
ternoon. I waited on you back
in 1996 at the Hard Rock Café
in Hollywood, and I carried
your golf bag for 18 holes at
ChagrinValleyCountryClub in
Cleveland as a teen.We studied
together in Don Ranley’s jour-
nalism class at the University
of Missouri and then again in
SamFreedman’s graduate book
seminar at Columbia Universi-
ty. We shared some great times
atWrigley Field that summer I
spent in Chicago, and we also
collectively cried when I sat
next to you on that Chinook
helicopter as the Army evacu-
ated the Louisiana Superdome
after Hurricane Katrina. All
thewhile, that constant and in-
variable satellite loomed bright
overhead.
Last month, when I learned
I’d be the new editor, Kimberly
(now my wife) and I walked
hand-in-hand
around
our
neighborhood in Dallas as our
daughter blazed a path before
us. When we stopped near the
playground, I squeezed Kim-
berly’s hand and pointed to the
moon with my other one. And
I smiled.
“Adam, you’ll do a great job,”
shesaid. “Youshareapassionfor
life and travel with every one of
your readers. Just do what you
havealwaysdone; listen to their
needs, wants, and desires, and
enable them to truly enjoy their
timeonAmericanAirlines.”
As you read this issue of
AmericanWay
, which is full of
stories that address your travel
wants andneeds, stop for amo-
ment and look out your win-
dow. Then look at the person
sitting next to you. Enjoy the
moon:Themoon ismeant tobe
enjoyedwith friends. I amhon-
ored to be on board with you,
and I genuinely look forward to
more stories and interactions.
Until thenext timewemeet…
Seven years ago, my girlfriend, Kimberly, and I werewalking
hand-in-hand along Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, and casually gazing at the street vendors’ interesting
wares.We approachedone vendor’s kioskandmarveledat his
hand-paintedconchshellsashesatthereandworkeddiligently.
Aswewalkedaway, Iheard thevendor call out. “Hey, Papi,”he
MoonShadow
AdamPitluk
Editor
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