A Death, a Birth, and a New Year
The news business can slowly steal your sanity. This statement may sound strange to many, but anyone who works in news knows just what I’m talking about. It can take you to the greatest emotional heights and lowest slumps all within a matter of seconds and then start again. During the past couple of days I experienced that journey, surrounded by the ambience of a New Year.
Live-shots are one of my favorite parts of my job, so it’s no surprise I was psyched to go live from Pier Park as they began their first New Year’s Eve celebration. Standing in the midst of a growing crowd with the music of a live band in the background, I did the 6 o’clock without stumbling in the least, and packed up with a smile ready to go home and enjoy a celebration of my own. That moment, when you’re just about to step out of work and enter the realm of your own personal life, (however miniscule that may be as a reporter) always seems to be the precise moment tragedy strikes.
In this case, it was a New Year’s Eve boating accident that took the life of a 64-year-old man. Driving 45 minutes through rural back roads of Gulf County, I arrived on scene after investigators had left, but the family was still there. It’s the hardest part of my job, walking past family members who’ve just lost a loved one, with a camera in hand. We’re not welcome and we understand. I can’t even begin to think how I’d react in that situation toward a reporter like myself, so I do my best to be un-intrusive and shoot video of the scene as quickly as possible.
Within a matter of hours, the mood shifts, and I’m up the next morning to welcome the first Bay County baby of 2009. I’m so grateful to be a part of a wonderful family’s special day, as their household becomes complete adding a new little baby boy to their 2 daughters. It’s all smiles and laughter as the New Year begins.
Reporting is a roller-coaster ride much of the time. But, I guess that’s why we’re here… to experience both the bad and the good.
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About Me
I was born and raised just outside the nation's capital in northern Virginia, and recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a major of Broadcast Journalism and minor in International Relations. I studied abroad for a while in Italy and also traveled to Shanghai, China for a journalism class. During college I worked at CBS6 in Richmond, VA as well as FOX5 in Washington D.C. I'm glad to be in sunny Florida and look forward to making Panama City my home for the next few years...
Recent Entries:
- Don’t Call Before Noon…
- A Death, a Birth, and a New Year
- Difficult Times to Give Thanks
- World of Couch Potatoes
- Trying the Trolley - Day 5
- Trying the Trolley - Day 4
- Trying the Trolley - Day 3
- Trying the Trolley - Day 2
- Trying the Trolley - Day 1
- A Year-Old Newby
- Throwing a Bone
- Relay for Life a Success!
- Sometimes Too Removed
- Those Born Without Wings Should Jump Instead
- Those Born Without Wings Shouldn’t Fly
Other News13 Blogs:
- The Casual Historian - Larche Hardy
- Derby Girl - Enocha Van Lierop
- The Newby - Jessi Chapin
- Gainesville, Georgia's All American Girl - Tuquyen Mach
