"Nightline"

I miss him; I REALLY miss him! I used to anticipate his arrival each evening before retiring to bed; sometimes he would intellectually stimulate me enough to sustain my consciousness while other evenings his strong steady speech would ease me to sleep. He was the late night alternative to the funnies and a staple in my daily life. I learned so much from him and respected his ability to seek his angle while exploring the propensity to speak his mind. And then one day, he is gone. Oh, I had fair warning – I knew that he was phasing out, but the day he left for good, I was forced to go cold turkey. Ted Koppel, I really miss you!

And the replacement…if that is an appropriate word…well, it took three of them Martin Bashir, Cynthia McFadden, and Terry Moran…in my opinion they do not even compare. What happened to my “Nightline”? It is just not the same anymore! While watching last night I think I deciphered what the huge difference is. Ted used to investigate one story (usually one that did not get much television attention) and explore it to the very depths within 30 minutes. Well, I give him the credit; however, as we all know there is a vast team behind every great individual & his was led by the show’s longtime executive producer, Tom Bettag, who left the show simultaneously with Ted.

At first I thought maybe I just missed the deliverance and decisiveness of his voice but it is more than that. Now, three individuals at uncertain intervals report segments of stories from all over the world. I say segments because that is what they are…slices, fragments, splinters, scraps. Moreover, to my disappointment, the show always seems to lead off with the hottest media tagline; it is easily comparable to a recap of the hot news stories of the day. I feel so slighted and malnourished!! At the conclusion of each broadcast I once felt competent and knowledgeable on a subject; now, I feel as if I need to research each headline because I was not provided the full account. Listen, I can watch the news each evening from 5-7, but before bed give me an in-depth story with steadiness and heart allowing me to slow down yet learn!

ABC news has experienced many losses from its broadcast family this year including the exit of Ted Koppel, the death of Anchor Peter Jennings and resignation of GMA weatherman, Tony Perkins. The recent serious injury of the evening news co-anchor Bob Woodruff, led me to contemplate one of the most depressing thoughts ever to cross my mind, what will I ever do without my morning GMA anchor, Charlie Gibson? For those who do not know, he is my favorite “TV personality/celebrity” ever. Strangest thing for a young woman to say, I know. People laugh when I tell them my dream guy would look like Gruden and have the personality of Gibson. I think it is just that he is so real, which I believe is the most desirable characteristic an individual can behold.

After an assessment of my friends, I have concluded that I seek this characteristic in my relationships with others. Without it, I begin to question the validity. I enjoy someone that will lay it on the line and tell me like it is. As I have mentioned previously, I have no problem speaking my mind, call me Simon (a reference to "American Idol" for those of you non-reality T.V. connoisseurs.) So, how does someone become “real”??? Are we born into this type of personality or is it developed with our experiences of loss and achievement?

I usually believe stronger in nature over nurture; however, after analyzing this topic, I find it hard to dispute that the portrayal of ourselves directly results from life experiences and the trials we endure. Being “real” involves understanding no one is above everything, entitled to everything, and protected from failure. Which makes me wonder if our new society and younger generation are failing to learn this lesson? Many of kids, teenagers, and young adults today are sheltered from rejection, failure, or being assessed honestly. Instead, they are being taught to just play without focusing on winning or losing or are constantly provided with material items and amazing praise despite their actual achievements. Is our society instructing the new generation to be above “realness”?????

It would be par for the course; modern technology teaches us we can tweak anything to obtain the optimum result, reverse unattractive factors, or change a potential outcome. We live in an age of plastic surgery, corporate corruption, and cloning debates. A Houston organization at Bayou Bend Park cheated Mother Nature this week in an attempt to sustain the blossoms of their Azaleas until their show in March. Since azaleas bloom due to the temperature and not the light of the sun and Houston has been unusually warm this winter; the Club poured 8,000 lbs. of ice over the beds of these famed flowers.

What credo does this introduce to our youth? Is it okay to fool others to obtain the outcome you desire even it is not in the stars or cards (whichever you are inclined to read)?????? Is it okay to ice down friendship, work, and emotional relationships until you are ready to “deal with” it instead of facing the reality of the present situation and taking ownership of the dynamics that exist? What ever happened to just letting things be, taking a deep breath, moving forward, and accepting the fate of events?

Now days we bring snow to the tropics, reroute waterways through desert lands, and build hotels under water! These things are exhilarating and grand but if you compare these extravagancies to a person’s personality…well, you answer me…are we intrigued or put out by those who are not real? Do we just want to be around people who are down to earth or are the high & mighty exalted? Just something to think about! It all comes back to the ultimate question, where do we draw the line?

I will be the first to admit that I love to change nature whether it is with hair highlights or color contacts. My ex-boyfriend used to reprimand me each time I sported green contacts and would beg me to exchange them for clear ones which he swore allowed my true soul to shine through. What are the alterations witnessed in society and applied to lives that inhibit the true self from being evident to the world? And most importantly, what lessons and values can we instill in future generations which will allow them to understand that the world is not always fair and they are not entitled to whatever they want just for the sheer fact that they desire it. I believe we need to refocus on age old lessons such as there is a winner and loser in each game and nothing worthwhile is obtained without hard work and desire. Isn’t victory so much sweeter when you understand the hurt and humiliation of defeat!?