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In what’s become a ritual this election year, I, as producer of WDAM’s 5:00 p.m. newscast, take a feed from the NBC News Channel’s Washington D.C. office (for the record, “NBC News Channel” is the name of a feed service; not to be confused with MSNBC or CNBC) every weekday at 2:30 p.m. Usually, Steve Handelsman, a correspondent for the feed service, would be in a booth with a nice view of the Capitol building doing his on-air work covering the latest political developments.

Today at 2:30, no Steve. Five minutes pass, still no Steve. I wait another few minutes and then came news of the death of Tim Russert. I thought to myself – we’re talking about the Meet The Press moderator and not confusing him with his father, nicknamed “Big Russ”, right?

Then, the NBC Sports golf announcers, covering the U.S. Open, toss to an NBC News special report. During this special report, an obviously upset Tom Brokaw delivered the unfortunate news Tim Russert “collapsed and died…while at work”.

We’d later learn Steve was relieved of his usual political coverage responsibility for the day. Instead, he was to file an obituary piece on Tim Russert for NBC affiliates via the News Channel service.

I can still remember back eight years earlier, back when I was morning producer, when the results of the election hinged on three words. Tim Russert wrote those three words on a small and simple dry erase board.

Those three words: “Florida Florida Florida”.

In an era of state of the art graphics and sleek presentation throughout the network level, it all took a backseat to that small, simple dry erase board.

My schedule rarely allowed a chance to watch Meet The Press. (If MTP was starting, that was my cue to get to work on Rock 104 RockTrax.) But throughout the rest of the week, I’d still get to see on other NBC programs – for he wore other hats as bureau chief in D.C. and host of programs on two of NBC’s cable networks.

Tim was a straight shooter and set the bar high for political journalism throughout it all. Further, along the way, it looked like he was having fun covering politics.

To say the absolute least, the next moderator of Meet The Press has one tough act to follow.

As noted on DougMorris.net, I’m taking some time off to commemorate what would’ve been a third wedding anniversary with Cindy.

Geof and I are meeting up in Jackson, Tennessee – where we’ll take Mom up to Kentucky to spend the night.

Then, roughly 48 hours in the Lima, Ohio area – including a visit to Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos and Cindy’s gravesite. We’ll also visit my in-laws, who I still claim as such, and see “the kids”, the nieces and nephew Cindy virtually claimed as her own children.

Then it’s on to the Morris family’s former stomping grounds in Beavercreek, just outside Dayton. Mom has not seen the old neighborhoods since we left in ’91; the rest of us have. This will be a real treat for her.

Thanks for all the prayers since January of last year. It’s hard to believe Cindy’s been gone almost a year and a half. We’re always comforted in knowing Cindy’s reunited with her father in Heaven. We’re also comforted in knowing she’s free of suffering. Prayer for traveling mercies in the week ahead would be in order.

Although I didn’t have him for a journalism class in my days at Southern Miss, I knew of Dr. Art Kaul.

I would really get to know Dr. Kaul better through dating, and later marrying, Cindy. Long after I graduated and entered “the real world”, I can remember a time Dr. Kaul called me at WDAM. He was calling on behalf of St. John Lutheran Church in Hattiesburg – requesting interview time for their upcoming Oktoberfest.

As he was making his pitch, I giggled throughout the call. I had to confess that I wasn’t laughing at the idea of Oktoberfest – I was only laughing out of giddiness over the fact I was dating a member of the church. All I had to do was mention the name “Cindy” and he immediately knew who I was talking about.

Word came that Dr. Kaul died last night after a bout with cancer. Prayer is requested for the family of Dr. Kaul, including his wife Nancy.

If God allows Oktoberfest to be celebrated in Heaven, count on Dr. Kaul and Cindy making plans. Here on Earth, the next time you’re at Oktoberfest, be it at St. John Lutheran or elsewhere, raise a glass to Dr. Kaul and Cindy.

As a widower who’s still a bit fragile after suddenly losing Cindy, I’ve been at a loss for words when I heard a radio colleague died this week.

Bob Chambers died Tuesday – an otherwise joyous day, the 13th anniversary of Rock 104. April 1st also marked my 12th year of association with Rock 104. If she were still with us, Cindy would’ve turned 36 Tuesday.

But back to Bob. He worked the overnight shift at Rock 104 for a decade. He’d later go further beyond the call of duty when he’d go upstairs to KZ94.3 to man the controls for The Rick & Bubba Show — or to 96.5 The Hub to man the controls during The Gospel Greats syndicated program.

As if that weren’t enough, he also worked at Pizza Hut. I wish I had the boxes of pizza stuffed in the station fridge to prove it. Suffice it to say, he spent his spare time sleeping.

Bob had a great, sometimes wicked, sense of humor through it all. In what proved to be the last laugh we shared, I finished watching an online clip of The Price is Right — to which Bob said something to the effect of, “Have your girlfriend spayed or neutered.”

Bob left us too soon at the age of 51. Thanks for the laughs and the memories Bob. Oh, and you know the little Mrs. you often asked me about? Tell her I said hello.

Goodness knows there’s a lot I could say, even joke about, regarding the call-girl scandal that resulted in today’s resignation of New York’s Governor Eliot Spitzer. Instead, I’ll keep my remarks brief and to the point.

Frankly, Governor Spitzer should’ve resigned moments after the news broke. Instead, he waits ‘til today.

My sincere hope is that he spent a good part of this week in contact with Lieutenant Governor David Paterson over matters of succession — for Paterson will become New York’s next governor Monday when Spitzer’s resignation is effective. I’ll give Spitzer the benefit of the doubt and assume he did.

At least now Governor Spitzer can stop some (but certainly not all) bleeding, settle some critics down, begin to face any consequences and, overall, enter his post-gubernatorial life.

Governor Spitzer is certainly not the first leader – either in politics, business or otherwise – to resign in such disgrace. Sadly, he won’t be the last.

Here’s a gentle suggestion to the rest of you in a leadership role. If you find yourself in a sex scandal similar to that of the departing New York governor, please do humanity a few favors. In no particular order, admit wrong, cooperate fully when necessary and resign. And, so that you may spare your associates extra headaches, do it all as fast as you can.

Dearest Cindy,

It’s hard to believe today marks the second Valentine’s Day since you left this earth. How I wish you were still here. How I wish we could be building a family we often talked about during our brief marriage.

There’ve been many sleepless nights since that second week of 2007. I’ve sometimes found myself hugging a pillow in what served as our marriage bed.

Part of me still wishes this were all a dream or some practical joke and I’d have one huge sense of relief. But I’m well aware it’s all real.

Throughout the last few months, I’ve often debated with myself whether I should remarry. Judy and Ron, your mother and stepfather, have thanked me for taking great care of you during the time we were together – and they’ve given me their blessing should I remarry.

As you know, each of them has been widowed at some point in their lives – and they obviously moved on. I’m especially grateful to Ron for sharing with me his story of love and loss. He lost a wife when she was 34 years old – same age as you.

In addition to experiencing two consecutive Valentine’s Days, I’ve been through birthdays, yours and mine; our second wedding anniversary; the fifth anniversary of our first lunch date; a Thanksgiving and a Christmas without you.

In that time, Cindy, I know you’ve spent it reconnecting with your father, Marvin Houdeshell – as well as Dr. Larry Kennedy, who had great vision for William Carey University. His vision brought you to the neighborhoods I call home – which eventually would bring you into my world.

While you’ve reconnected with Marvin, Dr. Kennedy and other loved ones who left this earth, I’ve networked with many widows and fellow widowers – one of whom has since remarried, another is about a month away from hearing the wedding bells toll again. One of those widowers shared with me these words from the Mitch Albom book The Five People You Meet In Heaven.

“Lost love is still love. It just takes a different form, that’s all. You can’t see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around the dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your pardoner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it. Life has to end, love doesn’t.”

Wise words, indeed. But, Cindy, I know you’ll agree these words are even wiser. These are the words you shared with me when times were tough for us — the words of Jeremiah 29:11.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

The Lord certainly meant no harm in that second week of 2007. I still agree with your belief He brought us together – because He was tired of seeing us as loners. As a friend further analyzed, He knew your time on this planet would be relatively short – and He wanted us to love each other and enjoy our marriage to the fullest. This way when He called you home, you’d be home happy.

Cindy, to be honest, I’m out of words – save for a group of half a dozen words. These half dozen words we often shared throughout our 19-month marriage and the many weeks and months leading up to our joyous wedding.

I love you, always and forever,

Doug

If you’ve followed my blogs, you’ll realize this week is one I’ve dreaded. Tuesday will mark a full year since Cindy suffered her first seizure. Thursday will mark a full year since she died from this sudden, unexpected illness.

Continue reading “One Year Later”

Somewhere in Heaven, Cynthia Deann Morris has a big smile on her face.

Ohio’s motto tells us, “With God, all things are possible.” Therefore, I don’t think I’m going out on too much of a limb when I say I truly believe Cindy has met Woody Hayes sometime this year. And, even though he coached “the other guys”, I’m just as certain Cindy has met Bo Schembechler sometime in ’07.

Speaking of Woody and Bo, a tip of the cap is owed to those who suggested that special coin toss with Woody’s face on one side of the coin and Bo on the other.

First, I know, it’s been a while since I’ve made any posts on the record. Much of the business I’ve had to take care of this year following Cindy’s death is nearly finished. Now, it’s on to the first Thanksgiving and Christmas since she died. These are events that are hard to imagine. To those who’ve sent up prayers, or at least good thoughts, thanks and please keep it going as we get closer to the holiday season.

On to a much happier note. A huge thumbs up to Dwight Woods and KEF Media for coordinating a satellite interview with Cat Cora, a Mississippi native and Southern Miss graduate. Cat, as always, shared great cooking tips. We taped the interview this morning at WDAM and we plan to air it over the Thanksgiving holidays.

It’s obvious to me Dwight and his colleagues at KEF did their homework. I just wish I could say this of the rest of the satellite interview universe (Direct Media Services; Satellite Tours, Inc.; Taylor Global; this means you). Whereas most of the rest of this universe just blindly throws darts in the air and hopes they’ll land somewhere on the target, it’s refreshing to hear from folks who go that extra mile and actually want to zero in on a bullseye.

By the way, if Dwight or anyone at KEF is reading this, in the event you land another interview with Cat, Brett Favre or any other favorite son or daughter of South Mississippi, you know where to find us.

The laughs remain few and far between. Thankfully, an e-mail at work led to a chuckle or two.

You guessed it, it came from that wonderful world of satellite interviews. This time, I’ll spare this pinhead some embarrassment by not naming who sent me this, what company he works for or the product in question. Keep that last variable in mind.

Indeed, the interview was all about this new, innovative product. The second paragraph of the (lame attempt at a) pitch reads like this…

“We would be happy to forward photos (of the product), arrange an interview or help further. If there is someone better to send this to can you please forward this to him/her or provide me with the contact information? Thanks and look forward to hearing from you soon.”

…I responded by noting there really is someone better that can help advance awareness of this product. That person is our sales manager at the TV station. The sales department he leads can help spread awareness of any product. I further noted the product can be showcased in several commercials throughout the day – instead of just once in an interview.

Let this be a lesson, world of satellite interviews. We TV producers do not want any interview in a newscast suddenly becoming an infomercial.