Ok: we were deemed newsworthy July 17, 2007
Here’s the link to our sunscreen clip!
http://video.nbc30.com/player/?id=129593
And you thought the war was dangerous July 13, 2007
Today I got a clearer image of how entertainment-oriented our news media really is.
We moved to West Hartford just under 2 months ago. In that short time, I’ve seen a very well organized group of concerned citizens protesting the war in Iraq on several occasions.
They stand quietly in the town center holding signs; their presence and position obvious.
In these 2 months, I have never seen a news camera anywhere near them, nor have I seen anything on TV or in the paper about what they are doing. (In fairness, it is possible that the media has covered the story of the protesters and I’ve just never seen it)
In any event, I was completely taken off guard today when I was stopped by a NBC reporter while walking in the center with two of my friends and their children.
The reporter asked if she could interview me. I said “sure”.
Here is an approximation of how our conversation went:
Journalist “so, it’s a nice day”
Me: “Uh huh” (brilliant I know)
Journalist “What do you think about sunscreen? Are your children wearing any right now?”
Me: “Um, yeah”
Journalist “And what kind of sunscreen are they wearing?”
Me: “No Ad 45″
Journalist “And what do you think would happen if they didn’t wear sunscreen?”
Me: “What do YOU think would happen if they didn’t wear sunscreen?” ( I realize now that this probably sounded snarky, but at the time I thought I was being kind of funny. Did she really need me to answer what would happen if they didn’t wear sunscreen. I was tempted to say, “I assumed that they would each grow another head”)
But I digress:
Journalist “So your kids are fair?”
Me” “Yeah” (She was looking right at my white/blonde kids)
Journalist “So where do you get your information about sunscreen.”
Me: “from the media, of course”
The whole thing felt absurd. Then the journalist (who seemed very nice by the way) started interviewing E. E was ready and managed to sound informed and smart in her responses. Though because she mentioned that her kids weren’t wearing sunscreen today, I wondered if she would be the lead up to a story on how even kids who tan can get skin cancer.
Then we were were asked if they could video tape us crossing the street for the full effect.
I was tempted to try my “runway” walk with the stroller. Based on my stature and general clumsiness, I’m not sure if anyone got that though.
While, I’m sure it will be a nice summer fluff piece for NBC local news, I was really bothered that this was the story.
On Monday, regardless of whether they use our dialogue or not, there will probably be a story on the news about sunscreen and protecting yourself. It will be the same message we hear every summer in magazines, the newspapers and the TV. Meanwhile, there is a war raging and we have an Executive branch that is gaining so much power that some believe we are experiencing a Constitutional crisis.
I guess that is just all the more reason to interview a group of Moms about what they think sunscreen does.
How do you explain the rudeness of strangers to children? July 9, 2007
I always remember birthdays. Unfortunately after I go and buy a card and fill it out, I forget to take it to the Post Office and actually mail it. So, while I know I remembered a birthday, the birthday person does not…and that of course, defeats the purpose. (keep in mind, this type of forgetfulness is what prompted the start of LittleChapters though)
So par usual right now there is a completed, adorable birthday card on my counter for my husband’s 1st cousin’s child…(I don’t know what relation this makes me but I do really love the whole clan)
I was going to mail this one,…really I was…in fact the boys and I were on our way downtown when we were hit in a terrible car crash.
I was going straight through a green light when I noticed something in my peripheral vision. As do all car accidents, this one seemed to happen in slow motion.
I realized that someone was about to hit me and just as I slammed on my brakes I felt the impact of his front end T-boning the driver’s side of my car. I heard T scream “That Suburu is hitting us!!!” I remember thinking, “Ok the worst is over– he hit us..”
And then I realized we were still moving. The other driver must have kept his foot on the gas and the boys and I were bulldozed sideways up Main Street. T kept screaming “He’s breaking our car!!” as C was crying and the collision of the cars was making a terrible crunching sound.
I have no idea how long the accident took. When our cars finally stopped, I realized that I couldn’t get my car out of 2nd gear and that my door wouldn’t open. (Now of course, I realize it was because my door had been smashed in and my wheel and axel were on the ground)
I climbed out the passenger’s side and then got the boys out. I have never seen them look so ghastly white and petrified. I wanted to tell them it was ok, and I couldn’t. I just walked them to the grass and we sat down and listened as other Moms told us we were bruised. (Total madness)
What got me though, was that the other driver never even asked if we were ok. He never checked on my kids. He just stared blankly into space like he had no idea what was happening. Before the police left, I approached him and said “well, are YOU ok?” He just looked and me and smiled and said “yes, of course!”
While my car was nearly totalled, my kids were visibly shaken and we all have some contusions and pain, the thing I am having the hardest time with is explaining to them why this man didn’t say “sorry”.
T keeps saying “How come he broke our car and didn’t even say anything?”.
I answer “Maybe he was embarrassed” But I know I would never let either of my kids get away with using embarrassment as a reason to be mean or rude, so I’m really troubled by it.
Maybe the right answer is that there are just some jerks in the world. What do you think?