100-Year-Old Still Reporting for Her Local Paper

Meet Mildred Heath. At 100 years old, she’s America’s “oldest worker,” according to a recent Scripps Howard article. Her profession? Journalism.

Heath, who was recently awarded the 2008 America’s Oldest Worker award, works as a correspondent for the Beacon-Observer, a Nebraskan weekly newspaper with a circulation of 1,500. She started her journalism career in 1923 at age 15 and still works 30 hours a week. She’s not shy when it comes to finding story ideas.

As Scripps Howard reports:

“One way to get the news in small-town-Nebraska is to open the phone book, call a number and ask whoever answers if he or she has a story. Another way is to call a neighbor who has cars with out-of-town license plates and park in front and ask what’s going on.

That’s how Mildred Heath has been getting the scoop in her central Nebraska community between the much larger towns of Lexington and Kearney for 85 years.”

Think about all of the people Heath must have met throughout the years, and all of the stories she has heard and written. I wonder how many of her clips she’s kept from the past 85 years.

In the article, Heath says she has stayed in journalism because she “feels needed.” What an interesting response. Hearing stories as journalists introduces us to people, places and things we may never have otherwise encountered. Telling these stories gives us purpose in this world, makes us feel wanted and needed. At least this is how I like to look at journalism. I think there’s something incredibly gratifying about knowing that you can expose corruption, create change and give voice to the voiceless as a journalist.

During a time when there is so much turmoil in the industry, it’s easy to lose sight of what drew us into this profession in the first place. Are we journalists because telling stories makes us feel needed? Are we journalists because we love to write? Maybe it’s because we view journalism as a way of helping others. Or maybe we love capturing moments in time and contributing to the rough drafts of history. Whatever our reason for becoming journalists, it helps to remember why the profession matters. If we don’t remind ourselves of its worth, we get easily burned out and pulled by the power of pessimism.

At 100, Heath is proof that journalism can make for a worthwhile living that makes us, and those we touch with our stories, feel needed.

Seniors Dance Their Way to Health, Companionship

Mark M. Hancock/The Dallas Morning News
Mark M. Hancock/The Dallas Morning News

I wrote an article for Tuesday’s Dallas Morning News about senior citizens who ballroom dance as a way to stay fit. While working on the story, I went to the Plano Senior Center and danced with several seniors who came to know me “as the girl with the notebook,” aka “the young reporter.”

Dance by dance, the seniors led me through a tale of history that helped me get to know them and their passion for dancing. Many of the seniors said they dance to remind themselves of days past, to stay healthy and to fulfill their need for companionship.

Click here to read my story and a related blog post that my colleague Leslie Garcia wrote.

An Essay Worth Sharing: Joan Didion’s ‘On Self Respect’

Not long ago I was at Border’s, looking through the store’s Joan Didion selection. She’s one of my favorite authors, so I naturally gravitate toward her books. As I opened Didion’s “Slouching Toward Bethlehem,” I re-read her “On Self Respect” essay. To read a beautifully-written essay about what self respect means is for me a powerful representation of how writing can help make us feel less alone in the struggles we face.

I recently gave my copy of “Slouching Toward Bethlehem” to a friend and typed out “On Self Respect” before doing so. Typing out the essay was an interesting way to interact with the piece. It made me more conscious of the nuances of the language, of the style the essay is written in, and of its tone. I’ve copied and pasted part of the essay below.

Once, in a dry season, I wrote in large letters across two pages of a notebook that innocence ends when one is stripped of the delusion that one likes oneself. Although now, some years later, I marvel that a mind on the outs with itself should have nonetheless made painstaking record of its every tremor. I recall with embarrassing clarity the flavor of those particular ashes. It was a mater of misplaced self-respect.

I had not been elected to Phi Beta Kappa. This failure could scarcely have been more predictable or less ambiguous (I simply did not have the grades), but I was unnerved by it; I had somehow thought myself a kind of academic Raskolnikov, curiously exempt from the cause-effect relationships which hampered others. Although even the humorless nineteen-year-old that I was must have recognized that the situation lacked real tragic stature, the day that I did to make Phi Beta kappa nonetheless marked the end of something, and innocence may well be the word for it. I lost the conviction that lights would always turn green for me, the pleasant certainty that those rather passive virtues which had won me approval as a child automatically guaranteed me not only Phi Beta Kappa keys but happiness, honor, and the love of a good man; lost a certain touching faith in the totem power of good manners, clean hair, and proved competence on the Stanford-Binet scale. To such doubtful amulets had my self-respect been pinned, and I faced myself that day with the nonplussed apprehension of someone who has come across a vampire and has no crucifix at hand.

Although to be driven back upon oneself is an uneasy affair at best, rather like trying to cross a border with borrowed credentials, it seems to me now the one condition necessary to the beginnings of real self-respect. Most of our platitudes notwithstanding, self-deception remains the most difficult deception. The tricks that work on others count for nothing in that well-lit back alley where one keeps assignations with oneself; no winning smiles will do here, no prettily drawn lists of good intentions. One shuffles flashily but in vain through ones’ marked cards the kindness done for the wrong reason, the apparent triumph which involved no real effort, the seemingly heroic act into which one had been shamed. The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others – who are, after all, deceived easily enough; has nothing to do with reputation, which, as Rhett Butler told Scarlett O’Hara, is something people with courage can do without. ….

I’d encourage you to find a copy of “Slouching Toward Bethlehem” so you can read the full version.

 

A Lesson in Shooting Video

Photo taken by Guy Reynolds/The Dallas Morning News
Guy Reynolds/The Dallas Morning News

The thought of shooting and editing video used to intimidate me. It seemed overly complicated, so I hid in the comfort of words. But one day, toward the end of my internship at The Dallas Morning News, I decided to stop hiding.

I’m so glad I did. While in Dallas, I paired up with photographer Ron Baselice, a great mentor who let me help him shoot a video in the Dallas Cowboys’ locker room. Who wouldn’t want to keep shooting video after an assignment like that?

A few days later, I came across what would become my first video story while walking through an apartment complex in Dallas. I saw a flyer for adult hula hoop gatherings and, hoping to relive a favorite childhood pastime, decided I’d see what they were like. After two classes, I was a hooked. I pitched a story about the gatherings to my editor, who thought the story had legs. She let me run with it, and said I could shoot a video to go along with it, too. I shot the video and edited it over a three-day period. The whole editing process took about 10 hours — for a minute-long video. I had edited audio a few times before and knew how to use Audacity and Garage Band, but I needed to learn Final Cut Pro, so the learning process took a little while.

Here are some tips I learned along the way:

–Shoot wide, medium and tight shots.

–Don’t zoom in and out a lot in the middle of a clip.

–Hold each shot for at least 10 seconds.

–Shoot relatively short clips. I sometimes shot 15-minute clips, which made the editing process more difficult.

–Shoot from different angles. Lay on the ground, climb stairs, hold the camera up high, then down low.

–Remember to hit “record” when you’re shooting, and don’t be afraid to ask someone to do an interview again if for some reason you forgot to record the interview. (This happened to me. Luckily, the woman I interviewed was very understanding. Often, especially when dealing with spot news, you won’t have the luxury of re-recording interviews.)

–Be wary of background noise. Shotgun mics can pick up more noise than you might think.

–To the extent that you can, try to hide the wireless mic cord. It looks tacky when it’s hanging out from behind someone’s shirt.

–Use a tripod or a monopod to help keep your camera still.

–Get lots of natural sound. In the hula hoop story, I tried to capture the natural sound of the hoops falling to the ground. The adults I videotaped didn’t use hoops with beads in them, unfortunately. This would have made for good natural sound.

–Test out your batteries before going out on an assignment. Make sure you have some back-ups just in case.

–Remember that editing a video is much like writing a story. The approach is different, but the basic fundamentals are still the same. Your clips are your scenes. Your soundbites are your quotes. Every image, every word, matters.

–Have fun, and don’t let video cameras, or Final Cut, scare you. Learning the basics of Final Cut really isn’t that difficult. If you don’t learn how to shoot and edit video now, you’ll regret it later … and you may never get the chance to go into a pro football team’s locker room!

Here is a link to my story and video. On to the next video!

What tips do you have for shooting video?

Starting to Resume a Regular Schedule

My new apartment is starting to feel more like a home. I have dressers, a dining room table, a TV stand (no TV yet), and a bed. A queen-size bed, no less. I’ve always had a twin-size bed, so the extra space makes me feel as though I’m swimming in sheets at night.

Now that I don’t have to spend all my time unpacking and tiptoeing over luggage, I’ll have more time to resume my regular blogging schedule. Generally, I try to post a blog item once every other day, but that can change depending on how much (or little) free time I have. Please continue to leave comments and share your feedback. Comments mean a lot to me. They’re little reminders that readers care and are interested in contributing to, or starting, discussions on “Word on the Street.” It’s you, the readers, who keep me going. Speaking of going, I need to go to bed. My queen-size bed is calling my name.

Places to Go, Sights to See in Dallas

I made it to Florida. I’m slowly settling into my new apartment, reuniting with friends and getting back into the Poynter work mode. I’ve missed this place.

I miss Dallas, too, and all that a large metropolitan city has to offer. Someone told me before I went to Dallas that “there’s nothing to do in that city.” Apparently, that person didn’t do much exploring. Dallas, and some of the surrounding suburbs, are full of fun places to go. I’ve compiled a list of recommended restaurants, shops, places of worship, etc. Please feel free to add to the list.

Avila’s — This Mexican restaurant looks like a hole in the wall. You’d never know that it’s home to what I would consider some of the best Mexican food in Dallas. The food and atmosphere seem much more authentic than some other Mexican restaurants I tried. I’d recommend the spinach enchiladas.

Barcadia — A fun bar on North Henderson that has a friendly wait staff and lots of outdoor seating.

The Buffalo Exchange — I found both fashion and frugality at the Buffalo Exchange. There are lots of stylish clothes here with price tags that never made me cringe. I once bought three cute dresses and a pair of yellow hoop earrings here for $50, as well as a pair of cowgirl boots for $22. Not a bad deal. Oh, and I saw Jason Castro here.

Cafe Brazil — This restaurant serves breakfast all day and night. The service is sometimes slow, but the food is pretty tasty for a chain restaurant. The French toast with fruit is my favorite. It’s served with cream anglaise, raspberry sauce, powdered sugar and walnuts.

Cafe San Miguel — Good Mexican eats with a bit of an upscale feel. (My guacamole was served with a tortilla chip sticking out of it. A little strange, I thought, but it added a nice touch.)

Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe — A beautifully designed church that offers several Masses in Spanish. Whenever I went to the Spanish Masses here, they were standing-room only. It always felt uplifting to see so many people attending church.

Central Market — This grocery store is like Whole Foods on steroids. It’s full of organic food, fresh produce, gelato, and salad bars. It’s also a haven for fruit mix fanatics. There are bins upon bins of different kinds of fruit mixes that customers can scoop into plastic bags. Same goes for coffee beans and candy. And I can’t forget my favorite part: Free samples! I left feeling full.

Chuy’s — I wasn’t especially impressed by the Mexican food at this restaurant, but it’s a popular chain that you should visit at least once for the lively atmosphere. The restaurant boasts lots of Elvis memorabilia, and the menu even features an “Elvis Presley Memorial Combo”: chicken, beef and cheese enchiladas, chile con queso and a crispy taco. Why the obsession with Elvis? Chuy’s owners explain on the restaurant’s Web site: “When we started plans for decorating the original Chuy’s back in 1982, we had less money than you probably have in your wallet right now. Twenty bucks to be exact. Mike went out, spotted a vendor selling velvet paintings, bought two – Stevie Wonder and Elvis, and brought back the change. (Hey, we needed to buy nails to hang them, too.) After that, people’s natural love for the king inspired them to bring their own Elvis memorabilia to the restaurant.”

Corner Bar & Grille — Located at the corner of McKinney and Monticello avenues, the bar has karaoke nights that usually attract a lively crowd. Request your song early, though. The bar gets crowded quickly.

Cosmic Cup Cafe — A great vegetarian restaurant with an atmosphere that will leave you wanting to redecorate your house, if only for a day. The restaurant is brightly colored and has a lot of character. I had difficulty deciding what to order when I went. I decided on the pizza mystica — black beans, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms with mozzarella cheese and basil, all served on nan. Good choice. The restaurant also offers dance meditation and yoga classes.

The Crow Collection of Asian Art — This museum currently has an impressive display of Chinese art from private collectors in Texas. There are photographs, paintings, sculptures and more. The museum, which is free of charge, left me feeling cultured and inspired by art.

Dallas Museum of Art — It doesn’t live up to New York City’s Modern Museum of Art, but then again, not many U.S. museums do. The museum features an exhibit with artwork that Dallas Museum of Art employees have made — artwork that I wanted to take home and hang in my room. The museum offers free sketching lessons every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., as well as several other events.

Eno’s — I love this new neighborhood restaurant. The pizza is a little too thin for my liking, but it’s good if you’re looking for a light lunch or dinner. The restaurant, which is located in the Bishop Arts District, tends to attract a younger crowd and sometimes features live bands. There are TVs in the restaurant and even in the bathroom so that you’ll never have to miss Romo making a touchdown. (TVs in the bathroom seem a little unnecessary to me, but hey, I’m sure some people find them entertaining.)

Fearing’s — If you have a full wallet and you’re in the mood for an upscale dining experience, check this place out. The restaurant, which is located in the Ritz Carlton, is a good place to take visitors who you want to impress. I felt lazy after eating here. The employees valet parked my car, opened the doors for me, (including the bathroom doors), frequently refilled my water, gave me free brownies with the check, and more. Note: The main menu doesn’t offer many options for vegetarians, but there is a vegetarian menu. You just have to ask for it.

Greenville Avenue — Lots of shops and restaurants here. If you’re in the mood for live music, check out the Granada Theater. Artists such as Ani DiFranco, Neko Case and the Avett Brothers have performed here in recent months.

Kalachandji’s — A Hare Krishna temple with a gift shop and Indian restaurant attached to it. The temple is open to anyone who wants to worship there, or just catch a glimpse of the ornate decorations. And I’d highly recommend the restaurant. I normally don’t like Indian food, but it’s all vegetarian, and it’s not loaded with curry. The restaurant is cafeteria style and reasonably priced. And the dessert is delicious, too.

Kirin Court Restaurant — This place has amazing dim sum. I had never eaten dim sum before coming here, but I ended up liking it. I even ate jellyfish, which is saying a lot for someone who is not very adventurous when it comes to trying new foods. I’d recommend going with a group of people because then you can order more dim sum and share it. It’s best to get there early. The place is generally packed by noon on Sundays.

Irving Bible Church — Service at Irving Bible Church is a pretty amazing experience, especially if you are used to going to Catholic Mass. Unlike most Catholic churches, Irving Bible Church is set up like a mini shopping plaza with a “Town Square” and a worship area that resembles an amphitheater. The musicians here are extremely talented. One of the singers has a voice that sounds very much like Sarah McLachlan’s. I love signing along with her.

La Calle Dolce — This quaint restaurant doesn’t seem like much from the outside, but on the inside, it’s full of delicious Mexican eats. I had my going away party with friends here and everyone seemed to like the food.

Latino Cultural Center — A great place to visit if you’re interested in Hispanic culture. Read an article I wrote about it to find out more.

Lee Harvey’s — A dive bar that everyone in Dallas has to visit at least once. The bar offers indoor seating, but I’d recommend taking advantage of the spacious outdoor seating area. On a clear fall night, you can get a great view of the Dallas skyline. You’ll be sure to meet lots of characters here.

Nasher Sculpture Center — This outdoor museum features sculptures from artists such as Edgar Degas and Picasso. I expected there to be more sculptures, but I still enjoyed what I saw. Sculptures, I found, seem more beautiful in the outdoors. Sunshine and shadows fall on them, creating an interesting balance of light and darkness depending on the time of day. My favorite sculpture in the center is called “Walking to the Sky.” Sculpted by Jonathan Borofsky in 2004, the piece features seven life-size figures walking up a 100-foot stainless steel post. It looks as though they’re walking on clouds, determined to reach the sun.

NorthPark Center — This mall is huge, and it’s a great place to people watch. For a while, I was walking behind a little old man, who seemed as though he was doing his speed walking workout for the day. At another point, I walked behind a group of five ladies who were all wearing over-sized T-shirts and hats that had pink and purple strands of hair attached to them. Then there were the women in Barneys New York who were buying $600 dresses. I walked inside the store, just so I could say I’d been there. Naturally, I gravitated toward the sales rack. Wow, a T-shirt for “only” $199! This store, and many of the other stores in the mall, are a bit too pricey.

Quarter Bar — A fun place to go after a long day/night in the newsroom. It looks small from the outside, but don’t be deceived. The bar, located in the Uptown part of Dallas, has a couple of different rooms with plenty of outdoor seating.

Reunion Tower — The tower is temporarily closed because a Wolfgang Puck is being built in it. I’ve heard that you can catch a beautiful view from the top of the tower when it’s open. I often used the tower as my point of reference because it’s right next to the Dallas Morning News building and it’s near the highway I took to go home every day. The tower, which lights up at night, is one of Dallas’ most recognizable buildings.

Sixth Floor Museum — I loved visiting this museum because of all it taught me about President John F. Kennedy and his assassination. The museum also gave me a greater appreciation for journalism and those who covered Kennedy’s death. It’s weird to think I drove down Elm Street, where JFK was shot, on a regular basis while in Dallas.

Snider Plaza — This outdoor shopping center near Southern Methodist University has cute little boutiques, nail salons and restaurants. It’s three blocks long and great if you’re looking for a shopping area that isn’t dominated by designer stores. I like the names of some of the stores here: “The Blues Jean Bar,” “Goo Goo Eyes,” “Peek in the Attic” and “Peggy Sue BBQ,” (which I’ve heard is pretty good). Heck, there’s even a snoring center. (What?!)

Soda Gallery — This “gallery” sells a variety of different sodas –200 types to be exact. There’s not much else in the shop, but it’s worth a visit, if only to crack open a nice, cold Dublin Dr. Pepper.

Southside on Lamar’s Jeanette Kennedy Gallery — I took a free yoga class here Sunday night. I had only done yoga once before and wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but I found it to be incredibly relaxing. I listened as the instructor guided the class through the motions. “Inhale. Exhale. Oooowwwwwm,” he said. “Breathe, smile. Breathe, smile. Pretend as though your brain is falling to the back of your head. Relax.” At times I felt funny, my head hanging between my knees, my arms and hands folded in a knot. But by the end of it, my body felt like jello, and my mind felt at rest.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church — I naturally gravitated toward this church, seeing as I went to a Dominican college. This church seemed more conservative than other Catholic churches I visited, but I always felt as though I got something out of the homilies.

Taverna — I didn’t find too many good Italian restaurants in Dallas, but I was impressed by Taverna’s. The food is tasty, and the cozy outdoor seating area makes for a good date spot. I’d recommend the Risotto and the Gamberetti e Pesto pizza.

The Texas Club — I joined this gym in part because it’s only about two minutes away from the Dallas Morning News building. The gym features a pool, a track, racquetball courts and plenty of equipment. I usually worked out in the evenings and would often be one of the only people in the gym. (It tends to attract more people during the daytime, and during the lunch hour in particular, the owner told me.) One drawback to the gym is that its aerobic classes aren’t at the most convenient times — there aren’t many classes on the weekend or later in the evening on weekdays.

Texas State Fair — If you’re in Texas anytime from the end of September to the end of October, you have to go to the fair, if for no other reason than to indulge in some fried food and to ride North America’s largest ferris wheel.

Thai Soon — I couldn’t find many decent Thai restaurants in Dallas, so one night I drove to Richardson with a friend to try out Thai Soon. The unassuming restaurant with delicious eats was worth the extra miles. I’d recommend the spring rolls and the vegetable fried rice. The restaurant is tiny, so get there early if you don’t want to wait.

Veracruz Cafe — By far my favorite restaurant in the Bishop Arts District, and one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Dallas. There is never a lack of chips and salsa here. Everytime I ate here, the waiters would refill the dishes of salsa and the basket of chips at least twice before the meal came. So much for saving my appetite for the main meal. I’d highly recommend the shrimp quesadillas.

Village Church — I was amazed by how young the congregation is at this nondenominational church. The one night I went, it seemed as though everyone was either in their 20s or early 30s. If there were older people there, they hid their age well. The church, which is located in Flower Mound, features beautiful music and attracts people from all over the Dallas area. Two of my friends drive 45 minutes to an hour every Sunday just to go to church here.

White Rock Lake — A good place to run, especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I was never ambitious enough to get up super early and run on the weekends, except when I ran road races. I ran the Walk, Wag and Run race here in October and really enjoyed it, aside from the dog that nipped at my feet in the final stretch of the race. …

What other places should I add to the list?

Road Trip Back to Florida Begins

Man, I’m going to miss this place. Just as I was starting to feel settled and get closer to the people I’ve met here, it’s time for me to leave. That always seems to be the case.

I’ve said a lot of hellos and goodbyes throughout the past few years when moving from Massachusetts to Rhode Island to Florida to Texas. I’m looking forward to this next part of the journey, though. I’m going to be reuniting with friends in Florida and starting a new job. It’ll be my first full-time job and the first time I’ll have an apartment that I can truly call my own.

When I arrived in Texas, I felt overwhelmed and scared. Everything seemed so sprawling, so unfamiliar. But with time, my familiarity grew, as did my fondness for the city. That’s what’s so great about traveling — you’re faced with the challenge of stepping outside your comfort circle and exploring new territories that you may have never thought you’d like. I’ve often thought that being a journalist is the best way to get to know a place because it forces you to get out and find story ideas, meet people, and build sources. As you explore, you have to learn to embrace the wrong turns and the unreliable directions because, really, it’s in getting lost that we find our way.

I’m hoping I can find my way back to St. Petersburg, Fla. I start my 18-hour road trip Wednesday morning and will be stopping halfway in New Orleans before arriving in Florida on Thursday. My departure is bittersweet. I like to think of it as more of a “so long” than a goodbye. I know I’ll run into some of the people I met in Dallas at some point in the future and that we’ll keep in touch. Already, two of my Dallas friends are coming to St. Petersburg next month — one for a wedding and one for a Poynter seminar. “So longs” are never fun, but they often yield new friends, new beginnings and much-needed reunions.

Thanks, Dallas Morning News friends, for a memorable three months. I’ll miss you.

Much to Be Lost, and Gained, During Times of Uncertainty

There are times when life seems defined by uncertainty. Will my house sell in this market? When can I get that raise I was promised? Will I have a job tomorrow? These questions become all the more prevalent during tough economic times, when financial instability creates worry, angst and a “Why this, why me?” mentality. I suspect many journalists who were laid off at The Dallas Morning News last Friday are struggling to find an answer to this question.

Even those who have stayed are left wondering how much longer they can survive in a “dying profession.”

“Are you sure you really want to go into journalism?” a colleague asked me the other night, a touch of cynicism in her voice.

“Call me crazy,” I said, “but yes, I still do.”

Despite the layoffs, the cutbacks, and the low morale in newsrooms nationwide, I still believe in journalism. I believe in the power of this profession to create change, to give voice to the voiceless and to bring clarity to uncertainty. Journalism is a noble profession that the world needs to be informed and enlightened. I do worry, though, about the quality of journalism, and how the continuous cutbacks will affect the work that news organizations do. Will there still be room for long-form narratives? Will news organizations have enough money to train their journalists? If the veterans leave, who will the younger, less experienced reporters turn to?

On Friday, I saw several talented journalists leave the Morning News, some of whom have been in the industry for decades. Their 25-plus years at the paper ended in an instant. Goodbye. Cubicles once cluttered with newspapers, candy wrappers and family photos are now empty. Something, it seems, isn’t right. Something is missing.

The layoffs created a void that seems to be growing in newsrooms nationwide. It’s a void that isn’t getting filled, and probably won’t be filled in the foreseeable future. I was hoping to bring a ray of sunshine into the newsroom, but I joke that I brought a rain cloud with me. Buyouts were announced on my first day at The Dallas Morning News, and layoffs happened on one of my last days. I don’t regret accepting an internship at the Morning News. In fact, I feel honored to have interned at the paper and lucky to have learned so much while I was there. Being at the Morning News during such a tumultuous time in the industry forced me to work hard despite the low morale and to latch onto the gifted editors in the newsroom who still want to produce good journalism despite the doom and gloom.

More than anything, it’s the holes I worry about. The missing people, the lack of enterprise, the inability to dedicate ample time to stories that need to be told. It’s the uncertainty that has me wondering what the future holds for those still in journalism and those who have left, either by choice or by force. The storm can’t last forever, the pain of reality won’t always hurt this bad. Will it?

I felt reality’s sting when I heard that one of my role models in the newsroom had been laid off. He was gone before I could say goodbye. I wanted to send him an e-mail, but I didn’t know if his work e-mail address had been deactivated yet. I searched for him on Facebook to no avail. I hoped to get his contact information from an editor this coming week but, as fate would have it, I ran into him at Border’s Sunday night. He was sitting in a bright red chair reading a book, seemingly calm after just having lost a job he held for almost 15 years.

I greeted him with an “I’m so sorry,” unsure of what to say.

“It’s OK,” he said. “I’m dealing with it as best I can.”

We talked about how layoffs suck, how at least initially, there’s no other way to describe them. They hurt our financial situations, our egos, our families. But we also talked about how the pain they bring can be turned into positive energy — energy to do the things we’ve been wanting to do but haven’t had time for. The reporter said that now he’ll have more time to watch his young son grow up. He’ll have time to put down his reporter’s notebook and pick up baby bottles and diapers. He’ll have time to be a dad. Another colleague who was laid off wrote on her Facebook profile that she can now work on the novel she’s been wanting to write, spend time with her grandkids, and put Obama signs in her yard because “now nobody can fire me for it.”

In this time of uncertainty — with the upcoming presidential elections, the difficult economic times, and the struggling journalism industry — the need for stability seems more important than ever. As much as we’d like to have stability, though, I don’t think we ever truly find it. We rightfully try to hold onto whatever stability we can find, but like sand in a clenched fist, it eventually falls from our grasp. It seeps back into the ocean, and like the water that ebbs and flows, it comes and goes. The challenge, it seems, is to find the beauty within the changes and the instability, to realize that happiness is a gift that comes in all different shapes and sizes. It’s the foliage that fades into winter. It’s the cat that sleeps on our pillows when loneliness lies beside us. It’s the sense of nourishment we get not from food, but from relationships that make us feel whole.

The reporter I talked to seemed content, but he acknowledged toward the end of our conversation that no matter how hard we prepare ourselves for something, reality’s repercussions still sting. He spoke about being angry and hurt. Who wouldn’t be? Then he held up the book he had been reading. It was simply titled “Happiness.” A yellow smiley face adorned its fluorescent pink cover.

He, like so many other displaced journalists, seems to be working toward finding joy in new nooks and crannies of life. I admire him and all the recently laid-off journalists for their years of work, and for their willingness to embrace change in times of upheaval and uncertainty. I hope that wherever they go from here, they find happiness.

What has your experience with layoffs been like?

Spotting Jason Castro and Terrell Owens

My brief encounter with Jason Castro
My brief encounter with Jason Castro

While shopping this weekend at the Buffalo Exchange, a thrift store in Dallas, I spotted “American Idol” contestant Jason Castro. No one seemed to recognize him, or they just didn’t care to approach him. I couldn’t remember his full name, but I walked up to him nonetheless.

“Hi! You were on ‘American Idol,’ right?”

“Yep, that’s me,” he said while holding up a pair of jeans.

“Oh wow, nice! Do you think I could take a photo with you?”

“Sure,” he said, brushing his dreadlocks out of his face.

I asked some random guy if he would take a photo of us, not realizing that my camera batteries were dead. One of the store’s cashiers overheard that my batteries were dead, and she ran to the back of the store and gave me some. Castro, who is from Rockwall, Texas, kept looking for clothes as I stood and wondered whether he’d think I was acting somewhat creepy. I’m not a huge “American Idol” fan, but I figured I might as well take advantage of an opportunity to get a photo of him.

While we’re on the subject of seeing semi-famous people, I should share my Dallas Cowboys experience. A couple of weeks ago, I shadowed a photographer to learn how to shoot/edit video. The photographer was assigned to shoot a video of Pacman Jones prior to his suspension from the team. Little did I know, we were going to shoot the video inside the Cowboys’ locker room. Oh my.

I walked inside and was faced with a room full of naked football players. They were all casually undressing in front of the news crews. Some of the guys are huge, and not particularly pleasant to look at in the nude. I tried to act nonchalant, but I couldn’t help but stare! At one point, I looked over and saw Terrell Owens naked. He may be the most muscular man I’ve ever seen. Pacman never showed up, but we managed to get some good footage of the other players. You never know what you’re going to see as a journalist, or when shopping.