“Hasta Luego” by Amor Towles

In the competitive sport of business travel, it’s easy to put on blinders and race to get your suitcase from one hotel bed to the next. But when some surprise interruption knocks those blinders off, you might get your best or worst travel tale out of it. It’s in this scenario that Amor Towles sets his scene in the short story “Hasta Luego” and widens the frequent flyer’s perspective a bit.

The main character Jerry gets hit with a flight cancellation due to weather at LaGuardia and has to make a series of snap decisions to get back on his track home. With airport chaos, frequent travelers are usually well equipped to navigate the mess, with club access and frequent flyer miles and sleep aids. We should enjoy that privilege when we’ve got it, but also keep a head up for someone that could use some fairy dust on their own journey.

Jerry ends up surprising himself in the dedication he brings to aiding his fellow traveler Smitty. But it’s Jennifer, Smitty’s wife, who recognizes the crisis that’s unfolding and pulls Jerry in to help with all the directness and persistence necessary. Despite being a seasoned traveler himself, Smitty relies on the combined effort of a loved one and a total stranger to get by in his moment of vulnerability.

I love this story for the holiday season. I love this story for any jaded business traveler. And I love the beautiful portraits that Mr. Towles paints of people who seem to have such privilege, but also their own fragilities. “Hasta Luego” is published in Table For Two, a short story and novella collection that is a perfect trip companion.

While in transit, I usually listen to books using the Libby or Hoopla app that is tied to my local library card. I also browse for used copies wherever those are sold, and pass them on again after signing the back cover (a la that beloved 90s romcom classic….Serendipity [also fitting for the holiday season]).

Happy Holiday Season and Happy Reading!

Weather delays will happen.