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I went somewhere Friday. Somewhere I hadn't been in 18 months and one day.
I went back to CNN.
In a case of "It's all true," the same bosses who didn't renew my contract after 12 years with the network have been unbelievably supportive of my efforts in launching this website and now writing my first book.
There was the moment a couple weeks ago when Larry King held up What's Possible! 50 True Stories of People Who Dared To Dream They Could Make a Difference and gave it a huge endorsement.
Then there was Friday's invitation. Come sit in your anchor chair and talk about the book.
What a wonderful visit.
I often get asked if I miss all the glitz and supposed glamour of my TV news career. I always honestly answer that I while I appreciate what was a huge opportunity and adventure, I haven't looked back for a second.
But walking in that newsroom Friday, I realized that I do miss something more than I realized.
The people.
I miss the time I had to bond with my women folk. The time you have the luxury of sitting in a make-up chair for a half-hour. Talk about a sisterhood! There is no life crisis that has not been discussed, dissected, and addressed in the CNN makeup room!
I miss many of the guys, too. I loved talking sports with them. Mondays are just not the same during NFL season. And having to get through the NCAA basketball tournament without the guys and without my dad this year, well, that was just downright not fun.
As I made my way from hug to hug throughout the newsroom, I was treated to baby picture after baby picture. Is it really possible for kids to grow that much in a year and half? What are they feeding these children? That part was more like a time warp.
Of course, nothing is guarnteed in breaking news land. I showed up there Friday knowing that if big news starting happening somewhere, my segment to talk about inspiration and hopeful news would go poof.
Sure enough, tornadoes started popping up in Arkansas in the hour before my interview was to take place. The old newsie in me thought, "Uh oh. There goes my segment." No hard feelings. That's just the name of the game.
I guess I just have a lot of folks on my team and those producers made it work. There was plenty of info on the tornadoes AND they made time for me and the book. That's actually an understatement. They made 5 minutes and 55 seconds! In TV news time, that's pretty much a full-length documentary.
It was a wonderful segment with video of some of the stories you've seen here on DarynKagan.com and plenty of mentions of What's Possible! Here's a look:
I can share that it was great to sit in my old chair and talk about the amazing people I get to profile now. When I look back on tape of the segment I think, "I don't think I ever looked this happy in 12 years."
That was a great feeling. As were all hugs and familiar faces. After the 5 minutes and 55 seconds, the anchor, Don Lemon, wrapped up the segment saying almost apologetically, "Well, we need to turn to some bad news now."
He was off to talk about tornadoes.
I was off to go home. My new home, right here. Exactly where I'm supposed to be.
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