Bush's "Family Reunion At 30,000 Feet"

When President Bush flew home today to Midland, Texas, with him was CBS News analyst and former counselor to the president Dan Bartlett.

CBS News anchor Katie Couric asked him if it was a bittersweet voyage for the president.

"It was a lot more sweet than bitter, Katie," Bartlett said. "It was like a family reunion at 30,000 feet."

"The president was in great spirits. He walked around to every single person who was on the plane and spent individual time with each of them," he said.

Later in the flight, according to Bartlett, a video-slash-slide show played – sort of an overview of the past eight years. Oh, all the memories!

"There was a lot of emotion, but it was very joyous," Bartlett said. "A good time."

How will the former president handle life after The Oval Office?

"Well, he was laughing saying … oh, I'm just an old guy they kicked to the curb ," Bartlett said. But really, "he focused a lot about working on his book."

Couric reminded Bartlett that he'd told her he'd need to get an unlisted phone number, because the president will have a lot of free time on his hands.

"We're all fearing that," Bartlett laughed.