My 35th birthday is rapidly approaching and I’m not thrilled about it. I know that 35 isn’t that old, especially to people who are older! But for me, who has the brain of an 18 year old, becoming “middle aged” is a terrifying thought! So my birthday has made me start thinking about my past a lot. One thing about me is I love the news and current events. I want to know when, where, and what is happening all the time! I can remember dates and times of most of the events I’ve studied. For example, we were recently watching a movie called “The space between” starring Melissa Leo. Good movie by the way! Anyway, it was about this grounded flight attendant after 9/11. In one scene she is sitting in a bar telling the bartender that pretty soon nobody was going to remember this event just like everything else that has ever happened. He didn’t believe her. So she asked him if he knew what had happened on April 19, 1995. He had no idea, but I knew! Without even thinking I stated that that was the day the Oklahoma City bombing happened. My husband was kind of shocked! But I love stuff like that. And my favorite place to get the news has always been from ABC4 right here in Utah.
My parents have been watching ABC4 since I was a baby. I remember very clearly when I was 7 hearing that Lucille Ball had died on ABC4 and my father remarking what a great loss it was. He passed away himself only a few months later. When I was 12 I loved anchor Kimberly Perkins. She was smart and beautiful and I wanted to be just like her. On the Mickey Mouse club kids could write in and talk about what they wanted to be when they grew up. Then the show would team them up with someone in that profession so they could learn all about it. I wrote to them twice asking for them to team me up with Kimberly Perkins so I could learn about being a news anchor…..and get to meet her! They never responded. Jerks! I recently found an old video recording I made of The Commish when I was 14 or 15. There was a recorded ABC4 newscast with Brent Hunsaker on it. Man, he was there a long time! Then when I was in college at Utah State University, Dan Pope came to speak at the Institute. I was SO excited! Todd and I had just gotten married and I made him come with me! I don’t remember anything that was said, but I definitely remember being so star struck!
With the exception of the 4 years we lived in Arizona and Nevada, I’ve continued to watch ABC4 into my adulthood. And now I have a little news fan son of my own. He’s the only 7 year I know who comes home from school and asks to watch the news! And his favorite anchors are Don Hudson and Kim Fischer. If one of them is off for the day he notices and demands to know where they are. One time I was watching Dr. Phil and just let the channel 2 news run after it was over. When he saw that another news was on he accused me of being a news traitor and changed it back! Last spring I got to meet Don Hudson when I attended Comic con. He was really sweet and took the time to chat with me. He even hopped a table to take a picture with me! I went down because I wanted to meet Dean Cain aka Superman. But while waiting to meet him I wandered around pretty terrified and found solace at the ABC4 booth. My son was so jealous! He still asks to see the picture we took together all the time. He was much more impressed that I met Don Hudson than Superman!
Okay, I’ll be honest with you. They’re my favorite too! Thanks to the wonderful world of Social Networking we now get the opportunity to correspond with people on a whole new level. And both Don Hudson and Kim Fischer have been SO nice and fun to talk to. Recently I asked Don if he had to stay late when the republican convention went long. He immediately sent a picture back of him looking oh so thrilled to still be there! They have been really sweet and its so appreciated. I was practically giddy when Don Hudson started following me on twitter! Haha! (ABC4 meteorologist Alana Brophy follows me too. She has the sweetest calming voice. But behind the scenes is hilarious! Just tonight she mentioned my tweet on the air and made my night! She’s fantastic as well!) But anyone who knows me knows if you’re good to me I’ll be your loyal friend for life. And they have been very good to me.
Utah and I have a very love/hate relationship. Being the mother of 3 boys, I love the safety and the community. There are a few thing I don’t love too. We’ll just leave it at that! But having that loyal friendship with ABC4 has made it a lot easier to be here! So thanks guys, this shout out is for you!