16 March 2002
Subject: The News Junkie
Dear Ones,
Did you ever hear of anyone suffering from "CNN
Withdrawal"? Well, that's me and I have had this condition for over a week
now. Let me try to explain, if I can.
I readily admit that yours truly is a first class, bona fide "news
junkie", especially when it comes to watching or listening to the news
on CNN. Let's face it... I'm addicted. I couldn't "just say no" to CNN
even if Nancy Reagan appealed to me directly, in person.
I think it all had its earliest beginnings in
1971-73 when I served in Washington, D. C. as a Pentagon Briefer for the Army
Chief of Staff and his principle Deputies. In that job, I had to keep
abreast of current happenings worldwide. In order to do my job in those days, I
relied heavily on the AP and UPI wire services for the latest information. We
had terminals from those news organizations in our office and when the printers
starting printing, I would run to the terminal printer and rip off the copy to
read the "latest news from the wire services". That news would be
confirmed, if possible, and later briefed to the Chief and to principle Army
staff members.
At home, I would keep the TV or radio turned on 24/7. During
the night, I would wake up almost every hour and listen to my bedside radio for
the news, which was broadcast at the top of the hour. It was regular old TV in
those years, as Ted Turner didn't create the Cable News Network (CNN) until
1980.
This ritual, which started while I worked in the Pentagon
many years ago, still continues to this day. Our TV is on constantly, usually
tuned to CNN.... and I still wake up on the hour to catch the latest news on my
bedside radio. I don't think anyone, however, does the news any better than CNN.
Like many of you, I watched with fascination on CNN the Gulf
War begin with the US attacks on Baghdad, Iraq. Also, I was glued to my TV last
September 11th as I watched America under attack as Islamic terrorists flew
fuel-laden airplanes into the World Trade Center and my old workplace-- the
Pentagon.
Most everyone around knows about me being a "news
junkie" because when they start talking about what happened on some
nighttime soap opera, my eyes just glaze over. I tell them I only watch CNN and
my favorite "characters" are Christiane Amanpour, Aaron Brown, Wolf
Blitzer and Larry King.
Well, last week something bad happened at our house. Our
power went off during the middle of the night and the power company had to come
out the next day and replace one of their underground lines. When they restored
our power, something even worse happened.... a surge of power blew out our
satellite receiver and TV. The company admitted fault and told me to take my
damaged TV and receiver in for repair. They went so far as telling me if the
equipment could not be repaired, they would pay for a new TV and receiver.
This was fine and dandy, but the fact remains.... it has
been over a week now and I have not had my daily dose of CNN. I think I am
suffering from "CNN withdrawal". Oh sure, I have other TV's in my
house and I can watch the news from the local stations affiliated with ABC, NBC
and CBS, but without my satellite receiver, I can not watch my favorite
station-- CNN.
I just wonder what I have missed this past week. I long to
know what has been going on between Wolf and Christiane now that Aaron has
entered the picture. And, what has Larry and Monica Lewinsky been up to lately.
Oh, excuse me, did I really say that I never watched any "soaps"?
Have a great Saturday and just remember... if you want the
best in news, turn on and tune in… to CNN!!
Don
P. S. (1) Our
son, Christian, called home Wednesday evening and Leavon told him that his dad
the "news junkie" was suffering terribly without any CNN for almost a
week now. Christian replied, "Well, mom, I would be too. I keep CNN on all
the time."
P. S. (2) I e-mailed my neighbor this week about my
being a CNN "news junkie" and asked her to refresh my memory about
what she told me that her young daughter had said one evening in 1991 during the
early stages of the Gulf War.
My neighbor's reply was, "Whitnie had just turned two
in Dec. 1990 and we were watching CNN during the Gulf War. Wolf Blitzer
came on and she said, 'Look Daddy, it’s Wolf Blitzer at the Pentagon!' She
could also recognize and say 'Christiane Amanpour in Rhiyad.' My husband said he
thought maybe we were watching too much CNN, lol."
