August 6, 2001… My one-year-old son was just starting to sleep through the night (yes, I know… I had completely forgotten what sleep was). So, just as things are starting to get back to normal, I decided it might be fun to continue waking up before dawn (HA!), only this time go have a little adult conversation (I was in DESPERATE need!!!).   I didn’t sleep much the night before as my nerves were a bit on edge. It was my first day back on-air in over seven years. To say I was nervous was an understatement. Excited… but definitely nervous.  

 

But, I was returning to familiar territory. Right before I left KBTX in 1994, I was filling in the co-anchor chair on Brazos Valley This Morning with Mike Wright and Orelon Sidney. The thought of getting to work with Mike again was a fun one. There was never any way of knowing how the morning would go, but it was a guarantee that there would be lots of laughter. At least on my part. Mike has a wonderful way of saying something hilarious, letting out a quick burst of laughter, and then completely composing himself as if nothing just happened. Meantime, I’m barely able to breathe, tears streaming down my face, and trying desperately to pull myself together. Never worked. I finally learned to just go with it.

 

When I sat down in the chair that morning, the on-air light came on, and the camera operator gave us our cue to begin the show, I had no idea that ten years later I’d still be doing the same thing. 

 

So, fast-forward to today… I’ve had the privilege of working with six co-anchors* and seven meteorologists** (is it me???... why do they keep leaving???) in these ten wonderful years. I have a job that I love, and one that allows me to be a stay-at-home mom to now two little boys. That first one I mentioned, the one who didn’t sleep through the night for a while, he’s 11 now… it hurts a bit. And the “baby” that many of you watched me carry, in what seemed like the longest pregnancy in the history of EVER, is now six. Ouch. 

 

I have also had the wonderful opportunity to meet so many of our amazingly dedicated viewers over the years. You stop me in the grocery store, Target, Wal-Mart, restaurants… wherever… and you always have a smile and a kind word. I can’t tell you how much that means. Not only that you’re awake and hanging out with us on a regular basis at that lovely hour of the day, but that you do it willingly. We know you have choices, so to know that you’re choosing us is an honor we don’t take lightly.

 

So, basically, this is a THANK YOU, BRAZOS VALLEY!!! You’ve made the past ten years fly by, and I’ve enjoyed each one. 

 

Ten more? We’ll see! 

 

 

 

 

*Co-anchors: Mike Wright, Jon Boaz, Derek Shore, Shane McAuliffe, Steve Fullhart, Michael Oder

** Meteorologists: Roger Barry, Amy Wilmouth, Travis Herzog, Shane Motley, Blake Matthews, Rodney Harris, Shel Winkley

 

And COUNTLESS producers, directors and members of the production crew who make the show possible each and every day!!!

 

WHEW! I need a nap!