Memorial Day Moore

The nation salutes our military today - those that have served our country to enable all of us to enjoy the freedoms of this country. And today I encourage you that read this to exercise your right to give ... To those in need.

I'll be returning home today but it's hard for me to think of my home when so many here have none. It's been a humbling experience, but an inspirational one as well. The teachers who sheltered their students by covering them with their own bodies, the teachers who sang louder than the whirling debris above them and thus helped their charges tune out the fear, the volunteers that showed up in a neighborhood to cut down mangled trees, or hundreds that showed up to clean a cemetery or the infamous Orr Farm- an OK City area icon. There were the construction guys that moved vehicles out of our cameras way so we were able to show you the devastation, there were the oil and gas company employees who served the media brisket and pork chops and anyone else that needed a meal, and there was the little Italian woman who stopped to tell me she was a new American citizen and how proud she was to be an American because these people's spirit was unsinkable and she wanted to be part of that!
God Bless America, and God Bless Moore.

Loss and Survivor Spirit

President Obama surveyed Plaza Towers Elementary today while we were at another neighborhood close by. A neighborhood that was flattened, a neighborhood that contains only rubble and memories and a neighborhood where graduating senior Alyson Costilla was sifting through chaos... Her story is on World News Tonight. She lost her mom, her best friend who called Alyson in a Seven Eleven where she had taken cover on that fateful day... There is mo Seven Eleven there any longer-Alyson lost her mom. All that is left of her home are bits and pieces of things. But her spirit remains tough, at graduation yesterday when her name was called six friends held up her Mom's photo... It's stories like this that show the spirit of this town... Throughout the demolished neighborhood ...signs declared the will of the people and my favorite one... Someone sprayed this message on their home ... Check out my last photo... There is still humor in Oklahoma and a fighting spirit!

I've got this!

Traffic flows much easier in Moore, OK today. The roadblocks are less frequent, more traffic lights are functioning and it's easier to get a hot meal. Residents are returning to their homes and those that have nothing left are returning to pick up the pieces... but they are not alone. On every corner there's a grill with food for the hungry or free water for the thirsty or just a smile and a helping hand for those that are spiritually downtrodden.

We are working on a story for Good Morning America that will talk about some of these volunteers tomorrow, the stories are endless.

I met a man in Walmart the other day as we waited on sacks of ice. While we waited he shared one of the many stories I've had the privilege to hear this week... He was at a hardware store buying materials to repair his tornado damaged home when he noticed a woman quietly hovering near him; he would walk down an isle and she would appear close by on the next. He noted this but did not question her motives, though they became quite clear when he checked out. The mysterious woman stepped up... swiped her card and said, "I've got this." The man told me he had learned long ago that part of the giving process is to be a good receiver. He took his $130.00 purchase, thanked this silent angel, and as he was driving away in his rear view mirror: the giver was searching for another receiver.

Oklahoma Strong, people helping people

Day 5 in Moore, OK. The rubble from the EF 5 tornado is evident as I drive around this city but the love of the people recovering from this horrific nightmare and the love of those who have descended upon this area to help is incredible! A young girl sits on a corner holding a sign offering a hug to those that need one. A sign for flat tire repair. A sign for work teams available. Those walking the neighborhoods handing out food and water. Signs on businesses that say Moore Strong, and We Are Open and God Bless Moore. And you know what, these folks... they've been hit in the heart but they've been infused with love... And this Texan has had the privilege of experiencing the spirit these Oklahomans call, "Oklahoma Strong"...

EF 5 and what that really means

Satellite trucks like dinosaurs amidst a prehistoric boneyard are parked in the parking lot behind a medical center in Moore, OK as worldwide news teams report on the EF 5 tornado that struck this town just south of Oklahoma City.

I have been camped out at the ABC compound this week helping produce multi-live shots reporting on the reality of devastation, sadness and hope.

Vicki Plucker took shelter with her two dogs at the Moore Medical Center Monday night. Tuesday morning she was okay but her car had been demolished by the Horrific tornado and her dogs were missing- feared dead. Wednesday construction crews cleaning up scattered debris found Dixie, one of Vicki's two dogs, alive with a few scrapes but okay! She was reunited with her owner and for a well paused moment ... Smiles conquered the heartache of disaster in this
Oklahoma town.

Midwest Abandonment

Sitting in a hotel room in Nebraska on a teleprompting gig and realized I have abandoned this blog... Life seems to grab hold with fierce clamps and take me every which way, and I tend to neglect my own writings. Sigh - 'tis really a shame because writing is my passion and I have allowed commercial writing (where I'm actually making money) and jobs to get in the way of writing for true delight... so I'm sitting here, after watching three hours of Animal Planet's Cat From Hell (I know - time just got away) where I learned that cat's really need environmental stimulation - who would have thought!l


I haven't posted in sooo long. Let's see, I've been to Berlin (on a job)... I worked with Terri Hatcher last April (too much Botox), met Director Gary Marshall, (my fav movie he directed was Pretty Woman) and what a nice guy!! Covered some ferocious tornadoes in my own back yard for ABC News and am currently sitting in Nebraska...

I attempted, this past summer, to complete my screenplay that I've had in the works for two years ... and I actually worked on it some at our summer cottage in Michigan only to have it disappear when my traveling companion's car was stolen on our trip back from up north... and yep... my hard drive was taken, along with a lot of everything else, and nope ... they never caught them. But that's just material things... the screenplay is still in my mind and now I have the cloud - which provides me sunshine storage that robbers can't touch.

Now there are no excuses about my screenplay - thus I hope to reacquaint myself with my characters, and begin the journey once more. And as far as the blog goes ... well, it's taken me awhile to PAUSE but I guess the Cat From Hell episodes really got me going tonight - jump started me - so I'll be posting again ... and if anybody see's someone wearing a pair of worn off-white cowboy boots in Missouri - they probably bought them from a pawn shop AND THEIR MINE!

If it wasn't for the song

I just returned from the rights of passage. Whose you might ask? Well truly it was for my son - he's off to college. The extra long mattress pad and accompanying comforter were in place. The extra storage bins filled to the brim with Ramen noodles, peanut butter and Star Bursts... the shower caddy - check, towels - check, a mad-money bill slipped to him at just the right moment - check,
my heart - check!

He and I were sitting in a college bistro having that last meal... some of you know that meal... it's the one where it's time for the parent to exit and you want this child you've nourished and taken care for 18 years to have one really good meal before they sub exist on soda and crackers, coffee and doughnuts for the next four years.

He had noodles and really didn't eat them. I knew it was time, and he went. I picked up the tab and when I got in my car to leave... I was fine if it hadn't been for
that damn song...
you know the one... by Lee Ann Womack.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

And for my dancing...
well after all these years I hope I can remember how.