Behind the scenes: I was supposed to be the lead story yesterday at 5:00 at City Hall on the controversial regional stormwater fee. My producer alerted me at the last minute that I was being moved down due to breaking news. I listened through my earpiece as Rob & Lisa began the newscast with the breaking news, of which I was as-yet unaware. They announced Robin Williams death and my jaw dropped and I gasped and exclaimed, What!? Oh, no! My photographer and our intern asked me, What happened!? Before I could answer, I heard Rob & Lisa say it was asphyxia by suspected suicide. All I could say was a solemn, Aww, dammit. A risky word to say aloud with a potentially open microphone during a live broadcast, but that was the feeling. I told my photographer and intern what I had just heard, and the reaction was nearly identical. Celebrity deaths are no more shocking or impactful than those of our own friends and family, but the sense of loss of a gift to humankind by virtue of ones own hand in the throes of darkness and seemingly insurmountable despair just makes the shock so much more profound. If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of dangerous and/or destructive despair, act now to attempt to prevent catastrophe. There are toll-free phone numbers a-plenty, but genuine affirmation of appreciation and a worthwhile existence is the simplest step.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:01:06 +0000
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