| radio listener, you know the guy I replaced
– he gives traffic updates to five radio stations and one
television station.
Picture a wall
covered with 50+ camera monitors. Each monitor shows a different
road, and the monitors are constantly flipping between cameras. At
5:10 pm, I reviewed my mental checklist for a 5:12 pm report
1.
Lipstick on – check.
2.
Powder so I don’t shine – check.
3.
What were the anchors’ names?
4.
What’s my outcue?
5.
How’s my hair?
6.
Why can’t I hear them?
7.
Is my microphone on?
8.
What will I say? Uhhh ohhh.
At 5:11pm and 33 seconds a voice comes
through the radio, “…And now let’s have a look at what’s
happening on the streets with Melisa Uchida.”
I was stunned. I thought I still had 27
precious seconds to get my thoughts together and he wants a report
now!
I must have mumbled something because when I
looked up, all I saw on the monitor in front of me was – me.
Panic shot through me and I froze like a deer in headlights.
Somehow I caught my breath and managed to stumble though a traffic
report of Downtown, Aiea and Pearl City. I forgot to say my name.
I forgot to say goodbye. I forgot a lot of things.
How could I have
panicked like that? I prayed no one saw me. What could I do but go
home, stuff my face and replay it over and over in my mind. When
my wonderful roommate came home, we had a long laugh about it and
instead of crying all night, I looked at all the benefits of
public humiliation:
1.
It keeps you humble.
2.
To laugh at yourself is a good thing!
3.
If we started out perfect, what would we strive for?
4.
Getting knocked down is a part of life. The tough ones get
back up and do it again.
5.
The first time is always a flop – expect it, embrace it,
learn from it.
6.
Everyone bombs! Just ask the person next to you.
7.
It makes a good after work story. Some people come home
with nothing to say.
8.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s only TV.
9.
It provides a challenge. Tomorrow, I will do it better.
10. Like
J Lo’s mom said, “Don’t call me up crying. Go out there and
make it happen.”
And you know what?
I saw the tape. It wasn’t that bad. It just gives me plenty of
room to improve!
Melisa Uchida can be
reached at melisa@oahuislandnews.com |
