In the Fall of 2008, I was given the task of producing a program about Hospice care. I was determined to make it accessible to everyone and not let it get too depressing or overly sentimental. I thought a show about Hospice could very easily go that way. Then, I met Jim Holston, the man responsible for bringing the program, “Live Strong. Die Well.,” to the screen. He was an elegant man, charming and approachable with a gift for public speaking and a sardonic sense of humor. He spent over 2 decades in the Hospice field as a volunteer, an educator and finally as a patient. With passion and humor, he diligently spread the word about what Hospice is… and what it isn’t.
To that end, I talked to Jim extensively about his Hospice experience as well as other experts in the field who represent the Hospice team. After meeting these remarkable people, I knew that we, here at KACV, had a responsibility to present the truth about Hospice care for the benefit of not only those who are unaware of its attributes, but also for those who like Jim, work in the field as well as to the patients and families who have experienced Hospice and know what an exceptional community it is.
I asked Jim what he wanted to say with this program, what did he want people to take away from watching it. He said he wanted people to know that hospice is not a death sentence; it is not giving up, or failure, but a choice to live as long as you can on your own terms, surrounded by loved ones and without suffering. I am proud to have known him and hope after watching “Live Strong. Die Well.” You will see why.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Just Like Starting Over
Last Sunday, I, along with my husband, my two sons (a 6 year old and a 9 year old) and their grandmother hiked the 6 mile round trip trek to “ the Lighthouse” at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. We had a lot of fun on the trail. We saw a couple of lizards sunning themselves (yes, it was hot), visited with our fellow explorers (including some “regulars” down from Canada) and even endured a tense moment or two (the bluff you climb to get to the Lighthouse is a bit dicey).
It is hard to put into words what a striking impression “the lighthouse” makes when you see it in person. Even more difficult is describing the feelings stirred up by such a sight. But, I think my kids provided a very apt description, “its huge!”.
After months of work on “The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”, the family outing was a perfect way to reach closure. We went to the park, got close to nature and stopped to appreciate what we have right here in the Panhandle.
Then, as we are winding our way up the canyon on to the flat road taking us home, I start talking to my kids about the music on the radio. As fate would have it, it's “All That Jazz” on FM90. We talk about the different instruments we hear in a song…a piano, a saxophone, the bass, drums…only then do I realize how things come full circle. My newest endeavor is to learn all I can possibly learn about jazz for the next KACV production about a seriously cool jazz quintet, Polk Street Jazz. Stay tuned.
It is hard to put into words what a striking impression “the lighthouse” makes when you see it in person. Even more difficult is describing the feelings stirred up by such a sight. But, I think my kids provided a very apt description, “its huge!”.
After months of work on “The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”, the family outing was a perfect way to reach closure. We went to the park, got close to nature and stopped to appreciate what we have right here in the Panhandle.
Then, as we are winding our way up the canyon on to the flat road taking us home, I start talking to my kids about the music on the radio. As fate would have it, it's “All That Jazz” on FM90. We talk about the different instruments we hear in a song…a piano, a saxophone, the bass, drums…only then do I realize how things come full circle. My newest endeavor is to learn all I can possibly learn about jazz for the next KACV production about a seriously cool jazz quintet, Polk Street Jazz. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
What Happens Next?
On Saturday September 12th, “The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon” aird on KACV-TV. It was a wonderful feeling to see the results of our hard work fill the screen after many months of preparation, research, interviews, shooting, digging up pictures, building timelines etc. But, at the same time, it was kind of bittersweet because its over.
While Dale Robinson, Buddy Squyres and I put this show together, we learned a lot of things about Palo Duro Canyon and we also met a bunch of really cool people who in one way or another make the canyon a better place. They study it: like Gerald Schultz, Jeff Indeck and Lisa Jackson, they work in it: like Bernice Blasingame, Randy Ferris and Mark Hassell, teach others about it: like Peter Petersen and Susan Thompson or they perform in it: like Bill Anderson and Dean Kelley or in the case of Tom Christian, they call it home.
It was a privilege for us to bring the story of Palo Duro Canyon to our viewers. I know I will never think of the canyon the same way again.
In case you missed "The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”, it airs again on Tuesday September 22nd at 7:00. Enjoy the show and thank you for watching and supporting public television in the Panhandle.
While Dale Robinson, Buddy Squyres and I put this show together, we learned a lot of things about Palo Duro Canyon and we also met a bunch of really cool people who in one way or another make the canyon a better place. They study it: like Gerald Schultz, Jeff Indeck and Lisa Jackson, they work in it: like Bernice Blasingame, Randy Ferris and Mark Hassell, teach others about it: like Peter Petersen and Susan Thompson or they perform in it: like Bill Anderson and Dean Kelley or in the case of Tom Christian, they call it home.
It was a privilege for us to bring the story of Palo Duro Canyon to our viewers. I know I will never think of the canyon the same way again.
In case you missed "The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”, it airs again on Tuesday September 22nd at 7:00. Enjoy the show and thank you for watching and supporting public television in the Panhandle.
Monday, August 31, 2009
I Heart Palo Duro Canyon
How much do we love Palo Duro Canyon? I can tell you after about 6 months of “living” the canyon…I do. I am a West Texas native, but I was mostly unaware of the rich history living in the walls of our beautiful state park.
After studying the history, visiting the canyon countless times and interviewing experts on every aspect of the canyon, I have a new sense of admiration for our scenic wonder.
Pete Petersen brings up in his interview, “What did the Indians think when they first saw the canyon…was it a welcoming place? What did Charles Goodnight think?” I feel the presence of those who came before and I continue to be overwhelmed by the unthinkable amount of time it took the Prairie Dog Town fork of the Red River to form the canyon and reveal the hidden world inside.
Palo Duro Canyon is home to unique ecosystems, home to beautiful cliffs, ledges and hoodoos, home to an exceptional past and its right here in our home, the Texas Panhandle.
Watch the “Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon,then go to Palo Duro canyon and experience the place for yourself (all over again or for the very first time). And you too will “heart” Palo Duro Canyon.
After studying the history, visiting the canyon countless times and interviewing experts on every aspect of the canyon, I have a new sense of admiration for our scenic wonder.
Pete Petersen brings up in his interview, “What did the Indians think when they first saw the canyon…was it a welcoming place? What did Charles Goodnight think?” I feel the presence of those who came before and I continue to be overwhelmed by the unthinkable amount of time it took the Prairie Dog Town fork of the Red River to form the canyon and reveal the hidden world inside.
Palo Duro Canyon is home to unique ecosystems, home to beautiful cliffs, ledges and hoodoos, home to an exceptional past and its right here in our home, the Texas Panhandle.
Watch the “Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon,then go to Palo Duro canyon and experience the place for yourself (all over again or for the very first time). And you too will “heart” Palo Duro Canyon.
Monday, June 29, 2009
A Natural Woman
Since we started rolling on our latest local production, “The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”, I have met many remarkable individuals who give their time and/or resources to make Palo Duro Canyon a better place.
Meet Susan Thompson.
Susan, along with the other members of the Panhandle Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists are volunteers who provide education, outreach and services to the benefit of the natural lands of our region. She showed us a beautiful setting for our interview, the wildlife blind at Palo Duro Canyon. It’s a quiet (except for the birds) little alcove a short walk from The Trading Post. It’s a place that is calming to the senses complete with a trickle of water from a nearby fountain. Susan talks about how the Master naturalists built that area of the canyon and how important it is to take care of our public lands, like those at Palo Duro Canyon.
The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon is set to air on KACV-TV in September. Stay indoors and celebrate the great outdoors with KACV-TV.
Meet Susan Thompson.
Susan, along with the other members of the Panhandle Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists are volunteers who provide education, outreach and services to the benefit of the natural lands of our region. She showed us a beautiful setting for our interview, the wildlife blind at Palo Duro Canyon. It’s a quiet (except for the birds) little alcove a short walk from The Trading Post. It’s a place that is calming to the senses complete with a trickle of water from a nearby fountain. Susan talks about how the Master naturalists built that area of the canyon and how important it is to take care of our public lands, like those at Palo Duro Canyon.
The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon is set to air on KACV-TV in September. Stay indoors and celebrate the great outdoors with KACV-TV.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Full Moon Fever
The full moon, the ghost stories, the fireflies…that’s just a sample of what a Palo Duro Canyon State Park visitor will discover when they set out on a night hike along the Juniper trail.
As my transformation to granola girl continues, I along with Dale and Monty from KACV and Andy and Jude (my granola sons) documented the full moon hike that the staff of Palo Duro State Park provides during the summer months.
For our upcoming program, “The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”, we captured Bernice Blesingame as she told 60 hikers about the “ghost horses” from the battle of Palo Duro Canyon. According to legend, campers can still hear the hooves and whineys of the Comanche horses that were shot by Col. Ranald Mackenzie and his men in 1874.
Maybe I will hear them too. I am going to spend the night in the canyon…in a tent, on the ground, no running water, no air conditioning. I’m still growing into my new “outdoor person” shoes, so I could use some advice on how to survive.
As my transformation to granola girl continues, I along with Dale and Monty from KACV and Andy and Jude (my granola sons) documented the full moon hike that the staff of Palo Duro State Park provides during the summer months.
For our upcoming program, “The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”, we captured Bernice Blesingame as she told 60 hikers about the “ghost horses” from the battle of Palo Duro Canyon. According to legend, campers can still hear the hooves and whineys of the Comanche horses that were shot by Col. Ranald Mackenzie and his men in 1874.
Maybe I will hear them too. I am going to spend the night in the canyon…in a tent, on the ground, no running water, no air conditioning. I’m still growing into my new “outdoor person” shoes, so I could use some advice on how to survive.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
A Family Affair
One of the coolest things about working for a TV station is that everyone on staff can be a part of the production, especially when it’s a show about something so close and so beautiful.
As Dale, Buddy, Donna and I continue gathering information and shooting interviews and footage of Palo Duro Canyon, other KACV staffers are getting in on the action. They are talking about camping, hiking, horseback riding and going to see “Texas” again. The common break room fodder around here is “I need to go out there again…it has been too long”.
Beside the show itself, the KACV family is working together on a very special “thank you” gift for the fall membership drive. The production, “the Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon is set to air in September so mark your calendar now.
As Dale, Buddy, Donna and I continue gathering information and shooting interviews and footage of Palo Duro Canyon, other KACV staffers are getting in on the action. They are talking about camping, hiking, horseback riding and going to see “Texas” again. The common break room fodder around here is “I need to go out there again…it has been too long”.
Beside the show itself, the KACV family is working together on a very special “thank you” gift for the fall membership drive. The production, “the Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon is set to air in September so mark your calendar now.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
This is the summer I will spend in Palo Duro Canyon, not on vacation, however, but working on the next local production for KACV, “The Natural Wonder of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon”
People who know me know that I am not exactly the outdoorsy type. I am not anti-outdoors, I am just more of a city girl so I can honestly say that after living in the Panhandle for almost 40 years I have spent more time in our awesome state park in the last couple of months than in all of the other years put together.
Although we are only in the beginning stages of the production, I have experienced my fair share of nature and I like it. Even better than the canyon in all its glory is the wonderful people I have met so far as part of the process. I am looking forward to visiting with more nature lovers and experts as we take a look back through the years and retell the history of the canyon, starting at the bottom.
People who know me know that I am not exactly the outdoorsy type. I am not anti-outdoors, I am just more of a city girl so I can honestly say that after living in the Panhandle for almost 40 years I have spent more time in our awesome state park in the last couple of months than in all of the other years put together.
Although we are only in the beginning stages of the production, I have experienced my fair share of nature and I like it. Even better than the canyon in all its glory is the wonderful people I have met so far as part of the process. I am looking forward to visiting with more nature lovers and experts as we take a look back through the years and retell the history of the canyon, starting at the bottom.
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