Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A lifetime ago

The other day, I took the kids to the TV station where Ryan works to have dinner with him. We visit a few times a year, usually on holidays when things are a little more laid back. This time it was Memorial Day, so while everyone else was outside enjoying barbecues, we were in an air-conditioned newsroom having some chicken tenders and fries.


After dinner they helped their daddy write some stories for the 11 o'clock news...


We always venture out to the set to take the obligatory photo at the anchor desk and this time was no different. What's cuter than babies pretending to do the news?


We've taken others over the past couple years. Here's one from last Fall...


And our first one after bringing Clara home (one of my favorite pictures of all time)...


After we got home, Clara and Luke's anchor-desk photo inspired me to dig out some video from when I was on TV. I dusted off the VCR and popped in an old VHS tape.

For those who don't know, I used to be a TV news anchor and reporter. Ryan and I also used to co-anchor together. We were dating at the time and our bosses actually created a show (the Live at Five News Hour) just for us.

As the kids and I watched the tape, Clara and Luke easily identified their ten-years-younger father. But even after I told them it was mommy on the screen too, they just stared at me blankly, clearly thinking, Okay, lady. Whatever you say.

Anyway, here we are, all young and skinny and BLOND...


Somehow, I thought at the time that I just had a few "highlights."

And here we are with our serious anchor faces...


I don't even recognize that person! I was probably 24 here. The hardest part of my life was just ahead of me and I had no idea. It seems like a lifetime ago that I worked in TV news, that I shared Ryan's profession, that I thought my future was as an anchor or reporter and that maybe one day I'd be discovered. I'm sure I thought having kids would be easy too.

If I think about it too long, I might envy that girl's naivety and hopefulness. And I might wonder what could have been if things happened differently. But now that I know how it all turned out, I wouldn't dream of changing it. I'd take my two little ones sitting at that anchor desk over me any day.


They'd probably get better ratings anyway ;)

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28 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! I don't recognize you either! You were beautiful just as you are now, just different! Your kiddos would get a TON of ratings! They're so adorable.

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  2. Love this post!! Always look forward to reading your posts!

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  3. I just love these reflective posts!

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  4. Love this post and the pictures! It's amazing to think back to the "where we weres"...

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  6. That serious face is a hoot!

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  7. You totally need to youtube that video so we can see you two in action in your younger days!!

    I love the pictures of the kids at the anchor desk. It reminds me of us taking pics in the cars at Andrew's work. So fun to look back at.

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  8. I did not recognize you AT ALL!!! Had to do many double takes! But you were beautiful then and beautiful now! Great post.

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  9. Did you meet him while anchoring together? That is sweet how they created a show for both of you! Aww!

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    1. We actually met while we were each working at competing TV stations that were literally across the street from each other. I'll have to blog about the story some day!

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  10. Even knowing that it's you-I just don't see it. I'll just have to take your word for it. :)

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  11. Haha, the serious anchor faces cracked me up! Ryan looks like he is about 18. Too funny. :) Love the baby anchors. Luke looks so grown up since the fall.

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  12. I want to hear more about how you started dating Ryan too!

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  13. So interesting! Great post!

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  14. So funny!
    You are still gorgeous!! I like you better with dark hair though, it brings out your eyes.

    I wouldn't trade my life now for back then either, even if I could go back in time and be younger again .. I like my life better now than I ever have.

    Its so fun to look back though and see how far we've come!!

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  15. Ok, are you sure that is YOU?! LOL! I don't see it, but I trust you:). Yes - I look back at pictures or think about past milestones and wonder how I ever got here?? I love to look back, though, and see how things worked out just the way they were meant to, whether I was "on board" at the time or not:). And, of course, your 2 babies are ADORABLE at that news desk:).

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  17. What a fun post! Agree with others about recognizing you- I didn't. I've always thought you were pretty with your long dark hair and seeing you with short light hair- it took a minute to see the resemblance. You are pretty either way! Kiddie anchors are adorable! Love it ;)

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  18. Oh my gosh, you looked so young! But I think you look great now!! :)

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  19. You must have been a teenager! That doesn't even look like you with the hair! I had no idea you were a news person:)

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  20. By Divine Providence found your blog and I was delighted.
    My name is Kalita, I am Brazilian and I'm 34 anos.Eu not speak English and used the feature of the Google translator to express myself.
    I am also a Catholic, I follow the commandments of our church and I hope God's time for a child to come, either by adoption or by pregnancy.
    Read his testimony brought me to tears, I saw myself in many of its relatos.Como is identical to what I live with the time you spent.
    And that story linda.Deus really is a sad story maravilhoso.De make a masterpiece.
    Your children are beautiful, designed by God.
    God bless you and always be faithful to God. And so will help many infertile women to fight.
    Brotherly hugs,
    Kalita - Brazil

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  21. By Divine Providence found your blog and I was delighted.
    My name is Kalita, I am Brazilian and I'm 34 anos.Eu not speak English and used the feature of the Google translator to express myself.
    I am also a Catholic, I follow the commandments of our church and I hope God's time for a child to come, either by adoption or by pregnancy.
    Read his testimony brought me to tears, I saw myself in many of its relatos.Como is identical to what I live with the time you spent.
    And that story linda.Deus really is a sad story maravilhoso.De make a masterpiece.
    Your children are beautiful, designed by God.
    God bless you and always be faithful to God. And so will help many infertile women to fight.
    Brotherly hugs,
    Kalita - Brazil

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  22. Oh, I love those photos -- of your babies and of baby K and Ryan. ha! You look great then and now, though I prefer the brown hair. :) It is so wild to look back and think of those people who thought it would all be so easy ... and yet, I don't know that I could have imagined how beautiful it all would be either. Thanks for sharing. I would LOVE to see video of you and Ryan hosting together. Please can you put something on youtube? :)

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  23. You both looked so young! Absolutely adorable :). Love those babies at the anchor desk :).

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  24. Wow! Blond!?!?! I had NO idea! I love the photos ... all of them ... you and your "news anchor" kiddos and the "young, blonde" you!!! I agree ... we need to see the video version of you and Ryan co-hosting. Your bosses were super smart to give you a co-anchor job together! :-)

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  25. Wow! I loved those pics of you and Ryan. :)

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  26. Not sure if I've commented here before but your family is too cute! Love this remember when post and the littles at the desk are just precious!

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  27. Love the photos! I used to work in television news too. It's a small world we probably know some of the same people!

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