Movin' On Up!

For 15 years every Thursday I put on my pj’s, grab a spot on the couch, and watch ER.
And for 15 years every morning I’ve been coming to work at my desk in the basement of WLUK-TV.

Both of those came to an end for me this week. I finally got around to watching the two hour finale last night. It was okay. The episode a few weeks ago when George Clooney made an appearance was much better. But it was a good ending to a GREAT run. It was fun watching clips from the old shows and seeing the old characters like they were my real friends. Some of the doctors’ kids were on. They aren’t kids anymore. Time flies.

And today.. I moved into my new desk in our brand new Newsroom at FOX 11.   I’ll have to contact some of my former co-workers. They won’t believe it. For decades, the news department has operated out of the basement. It’s an old building, so use your imagination. The only windows we had, were television screens. As the staff grew, the desks got closer and closer. We always made it work — with new technology replacing the old. New carpet replacing the old. But no matter how fancy the “stuff” got.. A basement is still a basement.

You should see us now. Wow! Too many windows to count. The TV screens are bigger.. And better.. And the desks are so shiny and clean.

Speaking of desks. I just cleaned mine out. YEARS of stuff — pictures and letters and tapes. It’s fun to go through. Sad, too. Pictures of friends I don’t see anymore. I came across a picture of the cast from “THAT 70′s SHOW”. Yep, Ashton Kutcher was here! That was a good memory. I found a tape where I interviewed Brett Favre. In 1996! We both had bad hair.

I wonder if any of the shows I’m watching will make it 15 years. Maybe CSI. Probably not Grey’s Anatomy. Just a hunch.

And I wonder if I’ll still be here in 15 years. And I wonder, if in 15 years, I’ll look back at my hairstyle and say “what was I thinking?!”

So go through your old drawers.. Your old photos.. Your desk..
It can be emotional. But it’s cleansing and that’s a good feeling.
Now I have room in my desk drawers.
And an open hour on Thursday nights.