Dear Southwest Airlines

We heart you. We really do. You make flying fun.

How do we, the Cousins Graham, know this? Several times a month, our rear ends make themselves comfortable in your justtherightsize seats. Since we know you so well, we thought you should know us.

Meet Hayden. Perhaps the funniest, craftiest, (but not in a weird old lady craft way, like a MacGyver in cute shoes sort of way) smartest, girl you'll ever meet. Three degrees to her name, she still finds great amusement in Fancy Nancy books. This shows she's well-balanced. And a sucker for glitter.

Meet Ashley Elizabeth. Fighting regularly the urge to be a full-time wonderer/wanderer, AE has a giant list of places she'd like to live and jobs she'd like to hold. Top of that list? Write the questions/answers for Prime Ministers Question Time. Believing Congress would be more fun if we acted like the Queen's government, AE regularly chases windmills in high heels, wearing fun jewelry, and with her best friend and cousin, Hayden in tow.

One half of the Cousins Graham had a pretty crappy 2009. She left the job she loved, the town she loved, and the man she thought she loved. Leaving the big white dress in the store, she decided 2010 would be a year of things she never thought she could do. Forcing Hayden into the madness, the Cousins Graham made 2010 the Year of Running.13 half marathons. 13 different days of 13.1 miles. In races alone, the Cousins Graham covered 170.3 miles this year. With training, they covered about 180.3 miles this year.

And you, Southwest Airlines made it all possible. We got very used to your crews located in Columbus, Nashville, Boston, Orlando, LA, and Denver. Never chiding us for holding onto our racing shoes/GU/running watches/running clothes while checking valuable family jewels in our luggage, never hurrying us along while we slowly and painfully walked up/down the jetways, and never laughing at our requests for more coffee during those 6:04 Monday morning flights back home. Southwest Airlines, you made our trips posssible!

We apologize for the grouchiness and thank you for the smiles. Next year we forsee a year of reading, so we don't anticipate seeing you as much. But we'll keep you in our hears. And wallets. And rapid rewards memories.

With love,

The Cousins Graham