Ten Years

Ten years ago I graduated from college and began my paid journalistic career. Part-time as a writer for the noon and five newscasts at the NBC affiliate in Dallas/Fort Worth paid less than Taco Bell; at least according to the "$8.50 train to start" sign I had to pass everyday on I-30. 

The position soon became full-time then I was promoted to overnight assignment manager. Basically I listened to the scanners all night, helped producers plan the morning shows and dispatched reporters and photographers to breaking news locations. I even had a few of my own news pieces air. Since I only worked overnights Monday through Fridays, I filled my Saturday and Sunday overnights as a producer and morning anchor for USA Radio Network News. During the days I freelanced as a reporter for a local cable station.

Since then I've at worked at stations across New York State and the past four here in Connecticut. I hadn't been back to Dallas often over the past ten years, but I knew to expect growth and change upon arriving for my 10-year-reunion.

When I was at school at SMU, public transportation wasn't a convenient option. However, as I was leaving Dallas in 1998, the area's answer to a subway system was under construction. Now students can access the DART Light Rail (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) from across the street from school and take it into Downtown and surrounding areas. People in the suburbs can ride it to the American Airlines Center to catch a Stars or Mavericks game.

Dallas is still an area where people value their cars. My drive from downtown Dallas everyday (where I had my renovated loft apartment) to Fort Worth (where the main station is) was the same distance from New York City to Stamford. And there was no option of anything like Metro North. Still isn't. If you drive a Lexus, you get free valet parking at the Ballpark at Arlington where the Texas Rangers Play. Oh, correction. Two years ago the name changed to "Ameriquest Field."

Expecting change, I was still amazed at how much the campus at SMU had grown. A new stadium, at least three new academic buildings, a parking garage and new museum. Back in my college days, it seemed like there was no room for expansion being in the middle of a large city near an interstate. Plus the area between SMU and downtown is full of cranes spouting boutique hotels and condos.

Me at the new Hotel Palomar's pool.

At the reunion, people looked basically the same as they did back in college. Though I couldn't remember some names and a few I had to ask, "Where did I know you from?" Oh, that fraternity, or that class.

For the most part, I found my favorite hang-outs still there unchanged. I drank my share of salsa this past week at Sol's taco lounge. And I did the most reminiscing at the Cosmic Cafe. I used to run to this place for Chai and spiritual healing whenever "news" would get to me. Okay, every other day. It was on the patio surrounded by brightly painted everything that I sat one Christmas day after working overnight at the station. Every third scanner call had been "suicide" or "attempted suicide." I also earned a psychology degree and knew the holidays could be very disappointing to many. However as I sat in the 65-degree sunshine that day sipping Chai, I wondered how anyone could be so upset on a day like that.

After ten years I sat talking with a friend from Dallas I knew back when. I was spouting how I loved the new light rail and lofts in the area just East of SMU, but I wouldn't want to live there because people were paying New York City rates to be next to Starbucks, Ann Taylor, Victoria's Secret and all the other chains that surround the much less expensive suburbs. I was explaining my same situation in New York City. I'm now walking distance to all those chains yet have to take a subway to the unique mom and pop places that got pushed north. He looked at me and said, "You are the same girl you were 10-years ago."