Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The only thing good about it was a Pekingese and fatigues

Reporters are often dispatched to stories that turn out to be "nothing". This happens more often than not, but we have to race to the scene, just in case it turns out to be "something big". Today, I headed to a standoff in a bad part of town, hoping I wouldn't take a bullet in my quest to report "breaking news."

Right when I got there, I knew things were wrapping up. People leisurely mowed lawns and walked their dogs in the shadow of a gigantic black SWAT truck. Police cars were everywhere, but there was no crime scene tape. I got out of the news truck as an old man and his dog walked by.

"Do you know what's going on over there?" he asks me, a smile wrinkling his face. His dog was the cutest Pekingese, golden brown with dark ears and nose. The little dog danced on his two hind legs as he vyed for position near my face. Seeing and petting that happy dog was ONE highlight of the standoff.

The second: men in fatigues. On my way to join the pack of reporters, this tall, muscular cop in fatigues smiled and said hello as he pulled a rifle out of his unmarked patrol car. I don't know what it is about men in uniforms and holding guns that I find attractive. Maybe its some sort of innate instinct to gravitate toward these protectors. Somewhere my brain is translating the fatigues into loin-cloths, guns into large sticks and axes, patrol cars the primordial caves. Anyway, I definately got my fill of it today. They were everywhere, and I had to remind myself to keep my eyes on my computer screen as I prepared to do the "they've got him!" liveshot.

All in all, the standoff today was a waste of time, but a feast for the eyes. Of course, I'm talking about the dog.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Way to make the most of a situation - and you got to report it to us! :-) i'd rather hear about cute dogs and cute men in fatigues than most news stories - you know, true human interest, LOL. Yeah I do see glimpses of biology at play in things that stir men and things that stir women. By the way did you ever figure out what the story was supposed to be about?

(Paula)

Dan-Eric Slocum said...

This is lovely and clever writing, as always.

Lisa said...

I know what I'm getting you for Christmas.....

Contact Travis said...

90% of the time this is exactly what 'breaking news' feels like...minus the cute dog and hot guys.