Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on TV?  I never really gave it much thought until several years ago when my job required me to be interviewed by several of the local television stations.  After the experience, I realized that very few people even watch the news.  It really wasn't the "fifteen minutes of fame" that the cliche often promotes. 

Earlier this month our therapy dog, Mango, was named Therapy Dog of the Year by the American Humane. We flew to Hollywood, stayed at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and participated in a number of television productions surrounding the event, including a taping with Mango for a commercial for Chicken Soup for the Soul.  The signature event was the award show filmed at the Beverly Hills Hilton, in the very ballroom where the Golden Globe Awards Show is held.  The ballroom was exquisitely decorated and the event was lovely.  It was a great experience to see how an award show that will be aired in the future is orchestrated.  Through out the evening we got to meet a number of VIPs.  My favorite opportunity was meeting Greg Louganis the 1984 and 1988 gold medal Olympic diver .  He even introduced Judy and Mango and presented Mango with her award. 

One of the other next discoveries was so many of the people who appear on television shows, commercials or movies are just "normal" people.  I was at a disadvantage because I do not watch a lot of television.  Consequently, as many of the "stars" came up to talk to us and Mango, we just interacted with them as we would regular people that we meet in the course of our everyday lives. Hopefully we did not offend them by our lack of "awe". They did impress us with their "down-to-earth" behavior.  I suspect it was refreshing for them to talk with people who just treated them with the normal courtesy and respect due everyone. 

Tomorrow we travel to New York because Mango will be appearing on The Today Show.  How cool. I'm happy that I am not appearing with Mango for her fifteen minutes of fame, but it will be very fun to watch how The Today Show handles a live appearance by four of the Hero Dogs.  I have never been to New York so this is a wonderful opportunity for me.  I am looking forward to the brief trip. The irony is that I will be spending more time on the plane or in airports than I will in New York City. 

The Night Flight

As a very young child night time was scary for me.  I remember that I did not like going to bed without a nightlight on because I was afraid of the dark.  In time I out-grew my fear.  As an adult I prefer my house to be as dark as possible when I go to bed because it helps me fall asleep.  

I remember as a child laying in bed at night listening to the thunder and seeing the lightening through the window. Some nights I was afraid. On other nights I found the thunderstorm very peaceful. As an adult I enjoy falling asleep when it is raining and thundering. How paradoxical. 

Lightening Over Dallas 

Just over two years ago I moved to New Mexico.  Thunderstorms are rare where I live. We have 350 days of sunshine each year.  The West is generally in a drought. When it does rain it is a wonderful event.  It is also a scary event because the soil is so hard and flooding can occur rather easily. 

I was traveling home from Dallas via airplane the other night. While flying I could see the lightening in the distance.  There was no thunder, just the hum of the airplane.  It was so peaceful.  Often flying at night you can see very little out the window until you approach the next city and the airport that is to be your next stop.  But glancing out the window and seeing lightening afforded me the opportunity to see into the distance.  My camera phone could not capture the wonder of the site.  But it will be a picture forever imprinted on my memory and will continue to bring peace and remind me of the joy of living where you can see a long, long way into the distance.  I have come to appreciate thunderstorms and lightening because storms are more rare than when I lived in the Midwest. Perspective is everything and context defines perspective. 

Traveling east into Las Cruces

Another interesting feature of where I live is that you can see a long, long way.  When I travel back to the Midwest or east coast I find that I miss being able to see a long way into the horizon. The ability to see a long way at night is enhanced by the lack of light pollution.  Consequently, when you travel at night the city lights can be spectacular.  However, if you allow your eyes only to gaze at the horizon you miss an even more amazing sight - the stars in the sky.  The absence of light pollution also allows for a full moon to provide light as bright as daylight.  No camera can fully capture what I am attempting to describe.  So while I remember being afraid of the night as a child I am in awe of the night as an adult.