Another quick note...
I found out yesterday that a classmate of mine from high school passed away from Leukemia. Not sure how to feel. It's one of those things where you haven't seen this person in a long time, but during school, you were pretty good friends. It's bothering me.
I also dated Brandon on and off through h.s. and college. The last time I saw him was in 1994. He was on a road of drugs and alcohol and I wasn't interested in even keeping the friendship going anymore based on what I was seeing. But it was wierd-I always wondered what happened to him. I had crappy thoughts about him-he hurt me pretty bad in the romance department. Yet-now-you just feel really bad for having those thoughts.
I first knew him at St. Francis during CCD classes. We were good friends back then, always goofing around and trying to get through those darn classes. Later, in JH and HS, we hung around in the same crowds. But, you know the way things go after you graduate-everyone goes their own direction.
I guess it's bothering me cuz it's someone my own age. Our own mortality seems so far away-yet it can happen at any time. I've only lost 2 other people near my age-Mary when we were 16, my friend Syrentha to breast cancer when she was 31, just three years older then me at the time.
Anyway, just having those thoughts. So, I watched It's a Wonderful Life last night to make myself feel better. I can never watch that movie without getting goose bumps at the end when his brother Harry says, "To my brother George Bailey: the richest man in town."
"Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." So, thanks to all of you, my family and friends. For without you, I would be nothing.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
"I'll see you tomorrow night."
Those words spoken by Tom Brokaw each night will be missed. I like Brian Williams, but it's going to take some getting used to not having Tom around on a regular basis anymore. I'm glad he stuck around through the election, because that is where I will miss him most.
I have to admit, I am a news junkie. It's what I wanted to do for a living for a long time. I studied anchors and reporters alike and took away certain styles and ideas to use as my own. Nationally, it was Tom Brokaw and Connie Chung that really finalized my decision to go into Broadcasting in college. Locally, it was people like Paul Majors, Don Shelby and Pat Miles (even Ernie Hain from KTTC's farm report in Rochester during the 80's) were all big influences.
When I ran into Ernie during my summer job at the Mayo Clinic in 1995, I couldn't believe my luck. The first words out of my mouth when I was introduced to him were: "ERNIE HAIN! I used to watch you on the farm report when I was in kindergarden!" (I'm sure he just loved that one!)
I worked with him over a 3 month span and learned a ton from him. He always told me that he believed that Tom Brokaw epitomized what an anchor should sound like. And, Brokaw's style of reporting was also to be commended. On the flip side, Ernie voiced this question: "I always wondered who the hell Barbara Walters slept with to become an anchor on television?"
In the last few weeks it has been of great interest to me to see how Brokaw has evolved. He admits that he is a political junkie and you can truly tell that when reporting on that stuff, he is at his happiest. But, he does so well with softer stories too. Just a few weeks ago I caught the tail end of a story that just overwhelmed me. It was a soldier in Iraq who had been killed on the day his first child was born into this world. You could truly tell that Brokaw was just as deeply affected by the event as I was. That's getting in touch with your audience.
And perhaps we'll never have as great of an anchor as Uncle Walter-Walter Cronkite. But, to me, Brokaw comes darn close.
I didn't expect him to get emotional at the end-but on that last day on the Today show, his emotions finally did catch up to him and he was hard pressed to speak without breaking down. Hat's off to you Tom. You're one of the best.
Those words spoken by Tom Brokaw each night will be missed. I like Brian Williams, but it's going to take some getting used to not having Tom around on a regular basis anymore. I'm glad he stuck around through the election, because that is where I will miss him most.
I have to admit, I am a news junkie. It's what I wanted to do for a living for a long time. I studied anchors and reporters alike and took away certain styles and ideas to use as my own. Nationally, it was Tom Brokaw and Connie Chung that really finalized my decision to go into Broadcasting in college. Locally, it was people like Paul Majors, Don Shelby and Pat Miles (even Ernie Hain from KTTC's farm report in Rochester during the 80's) were all big influences.
When I ran into Ernie during my summer job at the Mayo Clinic in 1995, I couldn't believe my luck. The first words out of my mouth when I was introduced to him were: "ERNIE HAIN! I used to watch you on the farm report when I was in kindergarden!" (I'm sure he just loved that one!)
I worked with him over a 3 month span and learned a ton from him. He always told me that he believed that Tom Brokaw epitomized what an anchor should sound like. And, Brokaw's style of reporting was also to be commended. On the flip side, Ernie voiced this question: "I always wondered who the hell Barbara Walters slept with to become an anchor on television?"
In the last few weeks it has been of great interest to me to see how Brokaw has evolved. He admits that he is a political junkie and you can truly tell that when reporting on that stuff, he is at his happiest. But, he does so well with softer stories too. Just a few weeks ago I caught the tail end of a story that just overwhelmed me. It was a soldier in Iraq who had been killed on the day his first child was born into this world. You could truly tell that Brokaw was just as deeply affected by the event as I was. That's getting in touch with your audience.
And perhaps we'll never have as great of an anchor as Uncle Walter-Walter Cronkite. But, to me, Brokaw comes darn close.
I didn't expect him to get emotional at the end-but on that last day on the Today show, his emotions finally did catch up to him and he was hard pressed to speak without breaking down. Hat's off to you Tom. You're one of the best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)