"Nice" is not a word I tend to use. It has something of an ordinary, common and sometimes even boring connotation to me, and using it to describe something or someone is not necessarily positive.

Last week I returned from an all-too-brief vacation south of the border. The sun was brilliant... the beach was relaxing; the food and margaritas were delicious and delightful. You can see I like "colorful" words.

My friends and I encountered a number of interesting people during our stay, from the vendors on the beach and in the shops, to the employees and owners of the various restaurants we enjoyed. We were welcomed, the service and attention was everything from fun to outstanding, and we had many positive things to say about the whole trip.  

During the week I purchased a number of ceramic items, and knowing from previous experience that the airline required all pottery and glassware be packed in our checked baggage, I carefully wrapped and secured my treasures in my duffel bag, hoping that nothing would break.  

On return flights, all to-be-checked luggage is searched piece by piece and then carried to the check-in counter by the security agent. 

During my turn I noticed how the agent thoroughly ran her hands through my bag while doing little to disturb the careful arrangement of my things. When finished, she immediately turned to my friend's suitcase and repeated the process. From where I was standing, I could see how respectfully she was treating our belongings while still making a comprehensive search. 

As I watched, I had something of an ah-ha moment. The word I wanted to use for the woman doing the security checks was nice. She was respectful of our belongings, she was polite, but not really friendly -- she wasn't supposed to be -- and she got the job done in an efficient manner.

As I thought back on the week, there are a number of words I could use to describe it: fun, relaxing, enjoyable, sunny, stress-relieving, peaceful ... But if I were to sum it up in just one word, I would have to go with "nice". It was a really nice week.