I still recall the second leg of that New York to San Diego flight in April, 2015. My connection was through Phoenix Sky Harbor, and the layover was short. I visit San Diego regularly to see friends and unwind. It’s like coming home.
I found my seat in business class right next to an elderly woman, likely in her late seventies, returning to her home in La Jolla. A polite, gracious (and talkative) woman, she told me all about the rapid growth of Scottsdale, and how wonderful her grandchildren were. She was a widow, and at one point told me to “savor every moment with your spouse- because you never know.