"Women are made to be loved, not understood." – Oscar Wilde
Women, everywhere I look. My entire life.
I grew up in a home with three women. As an adult, I live with five females, my co-anchors are women, and the majority of my bosses in my 20+ year career have been women. I think God might be trying to tell me something!
Welcome to Odd Man Out, a blog that will speak from the perspective of a man trying to stay afloat in a sea of estrogen. At times, I will write about topics simply from the viewpoint of a man who is a husband and father of four daughters. Other times, I will get down to the nitty gritty and just get to the point to share with you all what I've learned over my 44+ years about these amazing, strong, nurturing, beautiful, talented, and incredibly complex, intricate creatures known as women, which is actually nothing! Enjoy!
ConGRADUATIONS: May 16, 2016
She did it!
It's hard for my wife and I to believe, but our firstborn child is a college graduate and it all went by so fast.
Our daughter graduated from Baylor University on Saturday morning to cap off a fabulous four years in Waco. She was a student-athlete who worked hard every semester hitting the books, and also helped her acrobatics & tumbling team win back-to-back national championships. From time to time over the past several weeks as the big day was approaching, I found myself nearly tearing up on a few occasions thinking about everything from the day she was born, to the time she took her first steps, to when she went on her first date.
But when the day came there were no tears from me. I was too happy thinking about what the next chapter of her life will bring.
There also was a sense of relief, for a few moments. We are finally done with that particular tuition, which is truly something to shout about.
But then I realized we have three more daughters to put through college. Oh...and then there are the weddings. I'm encouraging at least one of them to simply elope, lol! Congrats Kalee'!
Never Settle: April 27, 2016
It's been a week and I still can't believe it. One week ago today our oldest daughter, her awesome teammates, & amazing coaches completed a fantastic journey that led them to a second national title in a row! In fact, their acrobatics & tumbling team became the first varsity team in Baylor University history to win back to back national titles (and all 4 national titles from Baylor teams have been provided by women's sports)!
Acrobatics & tumbling, more commonly known by us insiders as acro or A&T, is an all female sport growing in popularity at the collegiate level. It is a branch of gymnastics that combines acrobatics, tumbling, compulsory, pyramids, & a little bit of dance to produce intense competitions between some very talented young ladies. They are strong & powerful, yet graceful at the same time. They are agile enough to tumble across an entire gym mat, but strong enough to hold one of their teammates in the air with their bare hands.
Our daughter started as a competitive cheerleader at the age of 5 and many of her teammates have the same background. Others come from a gymnastics or acrobatics background. But it gives young ladies with those skills an opportunity to use those talents to continue their athletic career & help earn a college education. How they work together as a team is really amazing.
And their coaching staff has to get quite a bit of credit. When I tell people about their head coach Felicia Mulkey I often describe her as the Nick Saban of acro & tumbling because of her ability to lead a program and the 6 national championship rings she now owns. But last week after their win against the University of Oregon one of the parents reminded me that Coach Fe (as we call her) has more rings than the Alabama football coach so it may be more appropriate to refer to Nick Saban as the Coach Fe of college football!
In the last two years since Fe's arrival Baylor's acro & tumbling team is 21-0 and has two national titles. This year's team mantra was "Never Settle." I believe it is a lesson these young ladies will take with them for the rest of their lives. Congratulations...job well done!
Feed Me And Tell Me I'm Pretty: April 15, 2016
I was volunteering at a CrossFit competition last weekend and in the middle of the sweat, intensity and athleticism was a young lady who caught my eye not with her effort and strength, but with the shirt she was wearing during her workout rounds. It simply read: FEED ME AND TELL ME I'M PRETTY.
My first reaction was a laugh. My second reaction was being impressed by her effort because she was doing a fantastic job. But I kept thinking about the slogan she chose to wear and display to competitors and spectators that day. Are food and compliments enough to make a woman happy, or at least part of the equation?
To figure it out I went to the experts: women whom I know, work with and live with. Here are just a few of the responses:
1) I’ll say this. For as COMPLEX as we are reported to bem - we really JUST love good food and to be told our mates think we look super-pretty!
2) First off, I probably wouldn’t ever wear a shirt that said that. BUT I do think complimenting a woman makes her feel appreciated and loved by her significant other/interest at the time. Girls are emotional roller coasters at times, so I do think compliments keep the confidence level high (which is what men like anyways). I don’t think that food would keep me happy with someone though. I can do that all by myself!
3) A woman needs your love and affection (tell me I am pretty) and your protection and provision (feed me).
I knew it! Women ARE emotional! See response #2. Just joking :)
But from all the responses, what I got was that women don't NEED men to compliment them, however it's nice when it happens. In 2016, chivalry still exists in some quiet corners of society and I think it's okay to give a woman a compliment from time to time as long as you don't look and sound like a stalker or pervert when you do it. It's even more important for her significant other to offer frequent compliments, and something I've learned over the years guys: if your wife or girlfriend gets a new haircut or is wearing a new dress you BETTER be the first to notice and give praise! At the end of the day we all want to be noticed.
Flipping Out Over #1: April 5, 2016
I have to give a shout out to my oldest daughter and her teammates at Baylor University! You may have never heard of the sport of acrobatics and tumbling but it is a form of gymnastics and is growing in popularity at college campuses across the country.
The Baylor team is the sport's defending national champion and just a few days ago ended its second straight regular season undefeated. My daughter, who is a senior, is part of a team of amazing young ladies who are great students, incredible athletes, and awesome leaders. Their bodies take a pounding in a sport that requires strength, high-level tumbling skills, and precise pyramid work.
They've accomplished a lot but as their motto for this year states: #NeverSettle. They have one more goal and that's to win the national championships when the the tournament comes to Waco in two weeks. Sic 'em Bears!
Crossfit Is For Girls-- March. 31, 2016
I've been doing Crossfit for about 8 months now. After trying to find a reason to quit for the first three months I finally learned to check my pride at the door, to not worry about perceived failure, and embrace the feeling of teamwork you get from your classmates.
One of the most humbling aspects for me early on was the fact that I was getting my butt kicked by most of the women in the class, even the pregnant ones! Now don't take that the wrong way. I live with a wife and four daughters; I get my butt kicked by girls all the time. But as a former athlete I thought I would “keep up” with most of the class a little better.
I've made progress physically and yes even emotionally. I've learned it's okay to cry in Crossfit. Actually...that's not okay. Most Crossfitters, male or female, would punch you in the face if you cried during a workout. Crying afterward might be okay. But today when I got to class, I looked around and saw that of the 10 people signed up this morning I was the only male. The story of my life! And sure enough, several of the gals were able to complete more rounds of our workout than I was and guess what? I was okay with that!
During today's workout I thought of something that a buddy recently wrote on my Facebook page: “Crossfit is for girls.” My response to him: “Yep...girls that would kick your a*! coming and going…lol!” But I wasn’t joking.
More Than A Haircut -- Jan. 7, 2016
I love my time in the barber shop. I know I don't have a lot of hair so it may not make sense to some for me to visit my barber once a week, but with HDTV I have to make sure my fade stays tight at all times!
I've lived in seven cities in my career and, let me tell you, my barbers have become some of my best friends over the years. In addition to finding a place to live and go to church, searching for a good barber has always been at the top of my list when I've relocated. But spending time at the barber shop is about a lot more than just a haircut. It's about friendship, trash talking, serious topics and a lot of laughs.
Take for instance my last trip to my barber shop. We caught up on several reruns of Sanford & Son, had a deep conversation about cyber security, pointed out the fact that the Texans have the same number of playoff wins in the past five years that Dallas has accumulated in like the last 20+ years and decided the Rockets have plummeted from a conference finalist team to scrub status because of the Kardashian curse. In many other conversations we have solved every single one of the world's problems. We're just waiting on the powers that be to invite us to the table to share our knowledge!
The barber shop is also special because it's a cross-section of the community. Many times I have been in the waiting area with a mechanic sitting to my left, a pastor to my right, a doctor across the room and a soldier sitting next to him. It's a place where men from all walks of life can come to not only make sure we're presentable at work, at home, on a job interview or at a wedding, but also where you have someone just willing to listen.
So next time you need a haircut or just want to hang out and catch an episode of Sanford & Son, head down to see the guys at Hall of Fame Barber Shop. Just be prepared to laugh. A lot!
Tick Tock -- Jan. 4, 2016
So, I realize the days, months, & years are adding up on the clock of life. I sometimes forget what I am looking for when I walk into the kitchen, I don't recover from workouts as quickly as I used to, and I really, really enjoy a good nap these days. But two recent encounters made me feel like the sand inside the hourglass of time got dumped right on top of my head.
Last week I was warming up in CrossFit and one of my buddies and I were talking about college years and life in general. As we were discussing alma maters, family, and the good ol' days he hit me with, “So how old are you Keith? You must be 40 or early 40's.” And without hesitation I said, “Oh no, I'm in my mid-40's.” And instantly I realized I had verbalized something I had never allowed myself to think about before: HOLY CRAP, I'M IN MY MID-40S!
For the rest of the workout and for about three days later I couldn't believe that I am now in my mid-40's. I mean, I know I turned 45 this past summer but 45 sounds way different that “mid-40's.” I mean c'mon...mid-40's!” The second cold-water-in-the-face moment came just a few days later.
I took my oldest daughter to the dentist to have her wisdom teeth removed. She's turns 22 in a couple of months and will graduate from college in May. She lives in a house with roommates, is a student-athlete, and has a job. She's pretty independent and lives most of her life without my assistance. But for some reason when the dentist's assistant walked out and said she could come to the back for her pre-surgery consultation I stood up and started walking with her. The nurse kind of laughed and told my daughter she could come back by herself if she wanted. Confident that my eldest would surely scoff at the assistant's suggestion and insist that her father escort her to the surgery room she sweetly smiled and said, “It's okay Dad. I'll be fine by myself.” Fine, by herself. As in, “I got this Dad so you can just go sit back down old man.” Keep in mind this is the same daughter who around the age of 12 all of sudden stopped holding my hand in public, so she has a history of breaking my heart!
But I picked my pride off the ground and quietly went back to my seat. I was there to serve as her designated driver since she had to undergo anesthesia, so apparently I'm still needed in dire situations. But I'm not complaining. I'm going to enjoy designated driving for as long as I can because one day I'm probably going to look up & be told I'm too old to drive!
Nothing Like the Last Minute -- Dec. 24, 2015
So you've waited until the last minute like you always do and you don't know what to get her. The clock is ticking with Christmas just a day away and you're running out of ideas. Actually you don't have any ideas. You almost never do. Well have no fear. I'm here with a few suggestions and I got them straight from the horse's mouth.
I spoke to about a dozen women from my wife, to co-workers, to friends. The question was simple: If your significant other waited until the last minute to buy your Christmas gift what would be a
fantastic present that could make up for his procrastination? Here is their Top 10...guys I hope you're paying attention:
1) A day at the spa – this was by far the most popular suggestion
2) Jewelry – try to get the real thing...they have enough costume jewelry
3) Gift certificate to favorite workout apparel shop – don't try to guess the size!
4) Purse – you can never go wrong
5) Shoes – another go to gift, just make sure you know her size
6) Concert tickets
7) Personalized champagne or wine glasses
8) Money – any form you can think of
9) Frame a ticket stub from your first movie or ball game together
10) Meal subscription service companies
The ladies promise me these are gift ideas that are sure to knock the socks off your significant other when she pulls that present from under the Christmas tree and opens it. And she'll never have to know it was last-minute. But you need to hurry! The clock is ticking.
'Tis the Season -- Dec. 23, 2015
Aisles are full, traffic is on Marshawn Lynch status (Beast Mode) everywhere you go, and the honey-do list is long. And I thought I was supposed to be on vacation.
Christmas week is shaping up to be a pretty hectic one and much of my time has been spent doing something most men simply hate: shopping. Do you know there are studies that show that the level of stress a man endures from shopping is actually HIGHER than the stress a fighter pilot experiences going into combat? Plain and simple, we weren't designed for it. But add the traffic and the people fighting over parking spaces and you're setting us up for a meltdown.
One night last week I was done with work at 10:35 and should've been home by 11:00. But because one of my daughters needed treat bags for a holiday party the next day, my wife had me in Walmart looking for "the ones without handles for 47 cents...I know they're there," until 12:22 in the morning. I was tired, my feet hurt and all the Walmart workers were mad at me because I had overturned every shelf that had anything that even resembled those 47 cent treat bags. I was dreading the thought of having to spend the majority of my holiday in the seasonal aisle of a superstore.
If we're not careful the holiday season can become all the things we dread: shopping, stress and feeling like you're in a rat race to put the best presents under the tree. My hope is that everyone takes a deep breath at some point this week and reflects on the things the holiday is really about: faith, family, food, and fun. Just please don't ask me to go shopping.
Thank You! -- Nov. 11, 2015
Veterans Day is the day we say "Thank You" to the men and women who have served our country, putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom. I've always had a high level of admiration for our servicemen and women, having come from a family that has served our country for several generations now. I had three great uncles who actually served in France during World War I, a sister and brother-in-law who currently serve in the Air Force (they actually met when they both were deployed to Iraq), and a number of relatives who have served in some capacity during every decade in between.
In my TV career I've also had the honor of covering our troops during our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Three trips to Iraq and one to Afghanistan have allowed me to see the sacrifices of our forces first hand. And even reporting on issues like PTSD on this side of the war has been some of the most rewarding work of my career.
The troops I've encountered have always been helpful, protective, and extremely grateful that here was someone who wanted to tell their story. On this day I say thank you to them and all their families for their service!
Trick Or Treating Allergy-Free -- Oct. 30, 2015
In about 24 hours trick or treaters will be fanning out across the Houston area trying to score some sweet, tasty treats. Next to Thanksgiving, Halloween is one of the traditions that Americans from all walks of life, cultures, & religions celebrate. Lots of candy will be gotten but not all candy is good for all kids because some kids are allergic to certain ingredients.
I found a good article from Parents Magazine that has some suggestions for allergy-friendly candy. Enjoy the weekend!
Baby News -- Oct. 7, 2015
We have a new baby! No, not me and Mrs. Garvin. I'm talking about our Channel 2 family, and the baby was almost born in our newsroom!
That's right. Our social media producer, Scylla, and her husband welcomed their second child into the world on Monday. Another bouncing baby boy for them. Her labor actually began in the newsroom and one of our co-workers had to rush her to the hospital for the delivery. There's never a dull moment in TV news!
The whole thing had me thinking about the births of my own children and just how the whole process is so special and beautiful, but serious and critical all at the same time.
I can thankfully say that I was there when each of our four daughters was born and I actually got to deliver our second oldest daughter, which is one of the greatest moments of my life. We've dealt with water breaking, induced labor and even two months of mandatory hospitalized bed rest, but nothing quite prepares you for the labor and delivery process. And each time was different.
We've had labor last for 23 hours and we've have it last for four. OK, my wife was the one in labor. I just watched most of the time, but I helped her with her breathing and constantly told her what a great job she was doing. What most people don't realize is that the labor and delivery process is a near life and death situation for both mother and child. Heart rates are skyrocketing and plunging, blood pressure is shooting through the roof and falling rapidly, and sometimes umbilical cords have a mind of their own. I've always had a high level of respect and admiration for women, but seeing my wife give birth left me in awe. Each time. When the babies entered the world I was overjoyed, overwhelmed, and more in love with my wife than you can imagine but what stood out the most was just how proud I was of her.
Proud and thankful that men don't have to give birth. If we had to do it mankind likely would've ceased existing centuries ago! Congratulations Scylla...job well done!
Glory Days -- Sept. 21, 2015:
This past Saturday at Kyle Field was a day I secretly had hoped would never come. The Nevada Wolf Pack traveled to College Station to take on the Aggies. I was raised next door in Bryan, grew up going to A&M games, & even played my last high school game at Kyle Field. I have always been an Aggie at heart, but I attended the University of Nevada on a football scholarship. Reno is where I met my wife and where our first child was born, so the Wolf Pack is in my soul. Never in my life have I ever rooted against the Aggies, but Saturday I had to choose sides and I went with my Wolf Pack.
Not only did I get to attend the game but the coaches issued me a pass that allowed me to hang in the locker room with the team and watch the game from the sidelines. The arrangement came about this past February when head coach Brian Polian graciously invited me to address the team at an early morning practice. I was in town to speak at an annual dinner hosted by the school of journalism I graduated from. I told the boys I'd be at the game rooting for them and I'm grateful I got a front row seat!
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And what an experience it was. Being back in the locker room just before the game with a million pounds of pressure weighing down on your shoulders, but everyone so silent you could hear a pin drop. And then the jog onto the field almost made me feel like I was 20 years old again. With more than 102,000 fans at the game it was the largest crowd the Wolf Pack had ever played in front of (the largest crowd I ever played in front of way back when was about 42,000).
I was nervous, so I can't imagine what the players and coaches were feeling. I just wanted to make sure I didn't trip on the carpet leading out of the tunnel. But the team handled the tradition, mystique, & spirit of the 12th Man well and did not wilt under the pressure. They played a hard-fought game and gave the Aggies and their fans something to think about for much of the game. They also managed to make an old man feel young again. Go Pack!
T Swift Props -- Sept. 10, 2015
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! Eeeeeeeeeeeee! Shrieeeeeeeeeeeek! I made it to the Taylor Swift concert at Minute Maid Park Wednesday night! You know...Swifty, Aly, Tails, T, Tayter Tot, TayTay, T-Swift, T-Swizzle! Whatever nickname you choose, this young woman is one of the most popular entertainers on the planet, seemingly turning everything musical that she touches into gold. Or I guess in her case it'd be more appropriate to say platinum!
So what was it like for me, a 45 year old dad to attend T-Swizzy's live performance in H-Town (I think I just made up a new nickname for her)? First off for full disclosure, I didn't actually attend the concert with a ticket. My photographer & I had press passes that allowed us in the stadium about 30 minutes before Swift took the stage. We then were allowed to only shoot the first 60 seconds of the first two songs, but that was more than enough for our 59 second package. We were ushered out about 60 seconds later so I didn't see the rest of the performance, but from the looks of social media posts it appears the sold out crowd of more than 40,000 people, mostly little girls and moms, had a blast.
Now, I'm not really big on celebrities or Hollywood. I mean, I love a good movie, I'm inspired by certain individuals, and I have my favorite music artists that I listen to on a regular basis. But for me, hero worship runs a little too rampant in our society. But I think it's worth it to look at why people are drawn to certain celebrities. Of the numerous people I interviewed for my T-Swizzle story on Wednesday they offered a range of praise for Swift: “She's so pretty!” “She has the greatest songs!” “She's just awesome!” “I love her! She's just the greatest!” Those are just a few of the comments I heard about Swift and that was just from the 40 something year old moms! But one phrase I heard repeated several times from old & young concert goers alike was “role model.” Moms told me Taylor Swift was the perfect role model for their daughters to look up to. Their daughters said Swift was the perfect young girl to follow.
Being attractive, having talent, and having the ability to draw people are certainly attributes that many of us would love to possess. While Swift is all of those things another quality in her makeup apparently is compassion, displayed in Houston Wednesday night when she met 12 year old Ellie Fetner of the Woodlands.
Ellie is one THE biggest Taylor Swift fans out there. She knows the words to every song, & earlier this year recorded a Swift parody video in which she wrote the words and choreographed the whole thing. About a week after recording the video in May Ellie learned she had leukemia. Her mission soon after became doing whatever it took to meet her idol when Swift came to town on Wednesday. After telling Ellie's story earlier in the week, Channel 2 & our viewers were able to get Swift's attention via social media and Ellie was able to meet her shortly before the concert Wednesday night. America is overly obsessed with celebrities and Hollywood, many times for the wrong reasons. But after Swift took the time to meet with Ellie I walked away from Minute Maid with a lot of respect for that young lady. I wouldn't say I all of a sudden have Mad Love for her but I do like her Style.
Decisions -- Sept. 7, 2015
I'm a little late with this latest blog entry & it's simply because recent events had made me a little too numb to write. I've mainly been wanting to express the joys of back to school season: the excitement of the new year, the shopping for clothes & supplies, and the return to the routine. But the death, anger, & tension that have gripped our nation and our community in the last few days and weeks have left me saddened and for just a time speechless.
It started nearly two weeks ago when two fellow journalists were murdered in cold blood on live television. Adam Ward, 27, was a talented photographer at WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia who recently had gotten engaged to a producer at the station. His fiancee' was watching from the station control booth when he was killed. Alison Ward, a budding reporter was 24 years old, just three years older than my oldest daughter. Their deaths hit home for me for many reasons, largely because they died doing something I and so many of my colleagues have done literally hundreds of times on the job. They were brutally murdered by someone who used to work at their station, a coward who ended up killing himself.
And then at the end of that week tragedy struck closer to home when Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth was gunned down. He leaves behind his wife and two kids. He and his wife will never celebrate another anniversary, his daughter won't know the joy of being walked down the aisle by her dad, and he'll never get a chance to play catch with his son. And let's not forget the police officer near Chicago who was killed last week after encountering three men who are still on the run. And then a police officer near Chicago, just a month away from retirement, is gunned down by three suspects whom police are still looking for. What in the world is happening to our country?
The time when people can have differing points of view and still be civil and have respect for each other appears all but gone. It's been bad enough watching the decline in civility on Capitol Hill and in the world of politics, but now it seems that citizens on Main Street USA are more polarized by the day. My guess is that the chasm will only widen as we head into the presidential campaign season. Of course, taking a gun and executing an innocent sheriff's deputy who was simply filling up his gas tank is a step in a whole other realm of dissension and evil, but I think even that is an example of a society full of individuals who are seemingly looking for reasons to sow discord.
But I am an optimist and I believe that as long as one is still breathing there is always hope. And as long as we have individuals who truly want to bring peace to our communities there is a chance to mend our ever-fraying society. Look no further than the memorial that was set up at the gas station where Deputy Goforth was murdered and the number of people who have come out to honor him and his family. And on top of that, the marches and pro-police rallies that have taken place all across the Houston area since the tragedy. There are still people who want peace and order. There are still people who want to respect authority. There are still people who want to heal wounds rather than rip them wider. But make no mistake. Whether we're talking about peace vs. anarchy, civility vs. discord, or right vs. wrong at some point all of us will have to make a decision as to which side we will stand on. The future of our society depends on the choices we will make.
29 Hours -- Aug. 19, 2015
Even though I grew up in hot, flat, humid southeast Texas something has always drawn me to mountains. I don't have the time, ability, or money to ever climb Mount Everest, but seeing that highest mountain on Earth with my own eyes is on my bucket list. I lived out West for 10 years of my adult life and although I learned I just wasn't a West Coast kind of person, the one thing I miss the most about that part of the country to this day is the mountains. As I've continued to try and challenge myself in my older years (call it setting goals, call it mid-life crisis, call it whatever you want) several years ago I attached climbing a mountain (or possibly mountains) to my list of lifetime goals. I researched, watched documentaries, and read tons of books and articles on mountaineering and could not wait to tackle my first peak. To me at the essence of mountain climbing was adventure and a level of romanticism. After climbing my first mountain earlier this month I can honestly say there is nothing romantic about it. It is a grueling, difficult, and dangerous endeavor and I had 29 long hours to think about it.
I chose to attempt a summit of beautiful Mount Rainier in Washington State, 85 miles southeast of Seattle. Known in those parts simply as “The Mountain,” on a clear day you can see Rainier sitting majestically 14,410 feet high in the Cascades all the way from the city. It's the most topographically prominent mountain in the lower 48 states (look that up...too tough to explain here) and many say it's an attainable first mountain to try and summit. What they don't continue to say is that of the 13,000 people who attempt to reach the top of Rainier each year, only about half make it because of conditioning or weather.
I was climbing in a group of eight, led by our mutual friend Jesse who climbs a lot. In fact, this would be his 20th successful summit with our group. He knows what he's doing. I myself have been in generally pretty good shape over the past few years. I've run 20 races, including three full marathons and 12 half marathons and recently have taken up CrossFit. In my mind I knew climbing Rainier, of course, would present some challenges. But I thought if I just put one foot in front of the other and gave it my best effort I would succeed and make it to the summit. Man, was I in for more than I could have ever imagined.
We started off at the Rainier visitor center known as Paradise, which sits at 5,400 feet above sea level. We had to hike from there to the base camp called Camp Muir. Muir sits at 10,200 feet and it's where we would camp for the night, get acclimatized to the altitude, and make our push for the summit at midnight.
About an hour in on the trek for Muir I started to notice I was getting slightly winded so I slowed down my pace. I just thought I was moving too fast with my 40 pound pack on my back. I couldn't conceive that the altitude would have much of an affect on me at that point. I made it to the base camp with another member of my group after nearly seven hours of climbing. We were pretty tired, but able to slow down and take off our backpacks. We set up our tent, helped gather and melt snow for cooking and drinking water for the climb to the summit and made it to sleep around 7:30 p.m. Bad, incredibly cold, uncomfortable sleep, but getting off my feet seemed to do my body a lot of good. Jesse woke us up at 10:30 p.m. to get dressed and ready for our push to the summit.
We headed for the summit at 12:03 a.m. on that Saturday morning. No leg of the journey was easy, but I felt the most comfortable in the first few hours of that day. Crossing about a dozen crevasses, including several with the use of a ladder, was not difficult at all and actually pretty fun. Climbing an area known as Disappointment Cleaver, a portion of the mountain full of loose rock that causes many climbers to turn around, in the dark with only the guidance of headlamps felt almost natural. But the closer we got to the top the more winded I became. I got to the point where my heart was racing as if I was running wind sprints and I couldn't go more than 5 to 10 minutes without having to stop to catch my breath. But even at that point I wasn't ready to believe that I could be suffering from altitude sickness. I just thought climbing was hard and I had to do whatever it took to make it to the summit.
We finally made it to the top of Rainier shortly before 9:30 a.m. I was relieved to get a break of about 30 minutes or so with my backpack off, but even walking around in the summit bowl I was still getting winded. We got a few bites to eat, drank some water and snapped our photos for Facebook, Instagram, and the like. We then headed down with plans to make a short stop back at Muir to gather our tents and other supplies, and then continue all the way back to Paradise. Before we left the summit I asked Jesse which was harder, coming up the mountain or going down? He simply said, “They're both tough. Just be ready.” And that's when the real fun began.
On the way down my breathing only got worse, with my heart continuing to race with every step I took. I was hanging the best I could even after I sprained my ankle about an hour into the descent. I kept that to myself, not wanting the rest of the team to worry about it or to have any excuses. But the longer we went, the more exhausted I became. It wasn't until about three to four hours in that two of my team members, Rachel and Pat, said there had to be something wrong with me, that I finally faced the fact that I probably was suffering from altitude sickness, which means my blood/body couldn't properly compensate for the lack of oxygen it was receiving at that altitude.
Jesse immediately went into action. He took himself and me off of our eight-person rope, linked me directly to him and had the other six link together. But four of the guys did something even more remarkable. As tired and exhausted as they were from our journey up and down the mountain they took my backpack, divvied up what was inside among themselves and then one of them (Gavin) carried what was left of my backpack in addition to his own. Jesse instructed the others to go ahead of us and had me place my hands on the back of his shoulders. He then walked me down to Camp Muir, crossing several smaller crevasses and traversing some narrow paths in about two hours.
When we arrived at Camp Muir park rangers, who are also trained as nurses, were waiting for me in the nursing station. They diagnosed me with altitude sickness, also known as hypoxia (the lack of oxygen had caused the breathing problems and I would later discover that I had developed a small amount of fluid in my lungs as well). But the journey from hell wasn't over.
Because my condition wasn't deemed serious enough to be transported off the mountain we had two options: 1) the rangers could extend our camp pass for the night and we could make our trek to Paradise the following morning, or 2) we could make the journey to Paradise that evening. Either way, my team was responsible for getting me to safety.
I offered to stay at the camp that night by myself so the others could go and be disassociated from my misery, but Jesse and Pat would have none of it. The problem was, you cannot start to fully recover from altitude sickness until you get down to sea level. As you lose altitude you should gradually feel better, but the symptoms for me wouldn't subside until I made it back to Seattle.
Four members of our group went ahead on their own and Jesse, Pat, and our other Rachel left Muir with me. I was still severely winded and to make matters worse I sprained my ankle for a second time. Rachel eventually went ahead to Paradise and Jesse and Pat stayed back with me encouraging me to pull out every ounce of energy, pride, and manhood that I had left to make it off the mountain before the clouds, fog, and drizzle that were moving in on us turned into something dangerous. I prayed, took in the encouragement of those two brave men and I tried with all my might to will any extra energy that I might have into my body, but for the first time in my 44 years of life I had absolutely nothing physical to give other than the slow, painful steps I was taking one at a time. The only thoughts going through my mind were those of my wife and daughters, my family, closest friends and the firm belief that God didn't bring me to that mountain to die.
The strange thing is that even though we were decreasing in altitude I was still painfully out of breath and my heart was still racing almost uncontrollably. As slow as I was moving I still had to stop every five to 10 minutes to catch my breath and slow down my heart rate.
But through it all Jesse and Pat stuck with me and finally we arrived back at Paradise at 3:30 a.m. Sunday. If you're running a clock we had been up with no sleep and with very little food for 29 straight hours. When I got to my rental car parked in the Paradise overnight lot and Jesse and Pat helped me take off my backpack, every muscle in my body immediately released hours of pain and tension. The two congratulated me for making it down and I apologized to them and Rachel for putting our team through that 29 hour ordeal. They left and I dropped into my car, turned on the heat, and went to sleep for about 5 hours. I just didn't trust myself to drive the 13+ miles to make it out of Mount Rainier National Park. It was hard, painful sleep but the most beautiful sleep I've ever gotten in my life.
Since I've come down from Rainier and recovered from the climb I've done a lot of praying and thinking, trying to understand everything my team and I went through. Should I have ever been on that mountain? What could I have done to have had a better experience? Will I ever go back again?
I still believe mountains are some of the greatest creations on our planet, but climbing them is a grind. Climbing may be rewarding, but it's not necessarily fun. It may be adventurous, but it is an endeavor not to be taken lightly. As a matter of fact, forget the adventure and those earlier thoughts of romanticism. It is an absolute kick in the stomach.
I also learned a lot about fear and overcoming obstacles. Two of the other big reasons I wanted to climb a mountain are the fact that I hate cold weather and I have a phobia of falling (related to but not the same as a phobia of heights). I've always believed you should tackle your fears, not be held hostage to them, so what better way to deal with cold and a fear of falling than to climb a mountain? Amazingly, what I learned is that the cold and the fear of falling were actually the two easiest things to deal with. We were only cold when we weren't moving. And when it came to any fears of falling we were too focused on climbing to worry about what was below.
I also learned to trust in God more than I ever had at any other point in my life. I know what it means to compete, work hard, and push yourself physically, but I had absolutely no energy to move myself off that mountain any faster than I was going. I felt fairly helpless. I didn't know how long my ordeal would last, but I fully believed that God was going to deliver me safely to Paradise, so I had to surrender my fate to His will. He used His power, and the selflessness of Jesse, Pat, the two Rachels, and the rest of the team (Gavin, John, & Jason) to get me to the parking lot below and to them I will forever be grateful. My first summit of Rainier offered more of a challenge than I could have ever imagined, an experience that I will never forget. I plan to be much better prepared to produce a more rewarding, less challenging climb the second time around.
Stop Signs -- July 31, 2015
I've been in broadcast journalism for 22 years now and like any industry, over time, you learn a lot about your trade and about life as well. As journalists we get a front row seat to history, heartwarming stories, and tragedy more often than most of us would like. We also get an inside look at how corporations, society, and families react to the ups and downs of life, and I cannot think of two major events in the life of a family that have taught me more about the character of human beings than fame and funerals.
In both instances a family can be drawn incredibly close to each other, or in too many cases sadly torn apart. I think each event has the ability to make individuals feel incredibly vulnerable and sometimes desperate and people's true colors rise to the surface. My own extended family unfortunately has been tested in recent weeks.
We lost my 20-year-old cousin who also happened to be my godson. From the time he was born until he passed away a few weeks ago I cannot think of a sweeter, more sensitive young man. He was talented, hard-working, adventurous, and had the warmest smile. His loss was sudden and all of us, especially his mother, sister, brother, and grandmother are so saddened by the void that has been left by his death.
Like the families I've covered as a reporter, our family has had its ups and down, its triumphs and heartbreaks, our joys and our painful moments. You don't get to decide who you're related to and the tough moments sometimes can lead to hurt feelings and even division. With my godson's death we had the opportunity to band together as a family or choose division and I'm thankful we chose to bond in our sadness. What these past few weeks have taught me is that relationships are far too important to let petty issues cause rifts. We're all flawed human beings and that means people are going to hurt us and sometimes disappoint us. Life is lived better when we choose to forgive those hurts and disappointments, and forgive often. Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting and it doesn't mean capitulation. Forgiveness means letting go. A wise man once said that to hold a grudge against someone is like ingesting poison into your own system and expecting your enemy to succumb to it. In other words, bitterness can eat you alive.
Life often gives us wake up calls, stop signs if you will, that cause us to decide what course we will take. Unexpected death is one of those wake up calls. You can choose to continue down the same path of pain and bitterness or you can choose to be a peacemaker. I don't know about you, but for me life is too short to wallow in pain and bitterness. Especially when it comes to family and those we love.
Date Night! -- July 17, 2015
One of the privileges we have as news anchors and reporters is getting the opportunity to emcee and take part in local events including galas, fundraisers and banquets. We get the chance to give back to the community and personally interact with the people who watch us on TV. Those events can also be an excuse for a good date night!
This past weekend I had the opportunity to co-emcee the bi-annual debutante ball for the Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. After spending nine months in workshops and events focused on things like etiquette and community service, 20 young women from the Houston area were formally introduced to the public as new adults.
Each young lady walked out on stage in a fabulous white, wedding-like dress. They were met by their fathers who then escorted them around the ballroom as either me or my co-emcee read their bio and list of accomplishments. After the introductions, young men, who were deemed their official escorts, joined the girls for a carefully choreographed waltz. Most of them either laughed or displayed nervous smiles throughout the entire routine but they all did a fabulous job. And then it was time for the dads to return and show the young bucks how it was supposed to be done!
Their return to the dance floor was accompanied with a few smiles but mainly with serious, 'I'm not going to embarrass myself, my daughter, or my family' expressions. The dads concentrated and did a great job and their daughters seemed just as impressed with their fathers' performance as they were with their young escorts. Everyone, including the fathers, was all smiles in the end.
After the dancing dinner was served and that's when date night began! My wife had joined me for the event. During dinner we were able to laugh and meet some really good people, making some new acquaintances.
We also were able to enjoy each other, snap lots of photos, and spend some (kind of) alone time away from home. As time goes by, especially when your kids occupy a lot of your time, most couples find that it's critically important to make sure you have time for each other. Experienced couples have told me that sometimes you can look up, 20 years have passed, the kids are gone, and you feel like you don't know your spouse as well as you used to. That's one of many reasons to stay connected through the years and one of the reasons I always look forward to date night.
No Pain, No Gain -- July 13, 2015
Burpees, thrusters, hand stand push-ups, back squats, slam balls. They all sound painful. Some of them even sound medieval. That's because they are.
All are exercises that I've encountered, and so far endured, as I've begun taking CrossFit classes at a nearby gym or box, as many CrossFit gyms are referred to. The first 40 minutes of the workout are somewhat bearable, but it's the last 20 or so that make you believe that swimming in a pool filled with hungry great whites while you're covered with chum would've been a wiser decision. I know I'm in over my head when I'm only halfway through the final portion of the workout, and my legs are tightening up, my lungs are burning, and I can't keep the slobber from hitting the ground.
And I'm a guy who's in OK shape. In the last six years, I've trained for and run a total of 20 races, including three full marathons and 12 half-marathons. I hit the weights when the schedule allows and I've even made improvements in my diet. Although all detoxifications, cleanses, and diets go out the window when I see a plate full of enchiladas or brisket! But as a former college athlete, I've always had a desire to compete, stay healthy and challenge myself. That is a major reason I decided to step into the world of CrossFit but not the main reason.
What would drive a (reasonably) sane man to take up a workout that makes you sweat puddles just in the warmup stretches? For me, it's simple: I have to do my best to be around for my five girls: my wife and four daughters.
About seven years ago at my yearly checkup, I discovered that I had higher than average blood pressure. In order to avoid medication my doctor told me to decrease my sodium levels and keep working out on a regular basis. That's when I decided to start running races. To be honest I know millions of people deal with much more serious health issues, but it was a wakeup call for me. If I didn't get it under control, medication was next. If medication didn't work, what was the next step? I had to get this in order, because I want to walk all my daughters down the aisle, I want to tackle every item on my bucket list and I want to run around and have fun with my grandchildren and, hopefully, great grandchildren one day.
So I'll take the sweating, the embarrassment, and the feeling of defeat when I'm barely able to finish a set at the gym, because I've discovered what most men do at some point: the ladies in my life are worth the pain.
A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing -- July 10, 2015
He was one of the most admired men in the United States. Trusted, loved, and considered America's No. 1 dad. He was the most popular celebrity in the 80s and early 90s but through his own 2005 testimony that was recently released, Bill Cosby proved that the man so many of us loved actually was a sick, demented predator who should've been locked away in prison the entire time.
When I was a journalism student planning out my career, Cosby was on a personal list I had dubbed the "Big 7," the top seven celebrities/personalities I wanted to interview, or at least meet, before I retired. I was able to cross a huge name off that list while still in college when I had the opportunity to arrange for the late Maya Angelou to speak at my alma mater and got to personally interact with her. In my first reporting job, I lucked out and got to interview the Rev. Billy Graham during his crusade in Fresno, California, his last revival that would be dubbed a "crusade." I also met and interviewed the late Rev. Jerry Falwell and, later during my days working in Washington, D.C., I was granted the opportunity to meet and interview former Secretary of State Colin Powell on several occasions. The other people on the list, Nelson Mandela, Bill Cosby and Denzel Washington, felt like long shots but where there's a will there a way right?
President Mandela's deteriorating health, withdrawal from the media and eventual death ended the dream to interview him. Denzel is still a possibility, but for whatever reason, Cosby was always the man I wanted to meet more than any of the others. From Fat Albert to his family friendly stand up routines to his groundbreaking television work that helped change the image of African-Americans, he not only had my respect and admiration, I felt like I knew Bill Cosby and Bill Cosby knew me. So imagine the moment I finally came across the man, the legend, the hero to me and so many others!
I was working at the NBC station in Washington, D.C., which is in the same building as the Washington bureau for NBC News. It's the same facility where Meet The Press is recorded. I was anchoring on a Sunday morning, and I knew Bill Cosby was in town, but I had no idea he was going to be on the show or in the building until I happened to walk past the green room used to house guests before their appearances. My heart would've stopped, except that it was beating as if I had just finished a 400 meter sprint. I had just seen Bill Cosby with my own eyes. He was in the room with Rep. Maxine Waters and Dr. Alvin Poussaint, who was a consultant on the The Cosby Show and had co-authored a book with Cosby in 2007. But Heathcliff Huxtable was the only person I really saw inside that green room.
I ran back to the newsroom as fast as I could to tell my co-anchor, producers, and other co-workers that I had just seen "The Cos," but they could barely understand me because I was speaking so fast and unintelligibly. I was determined to meet Bill Cosby, because I just didn't know when I would ever get the chance again, but first I had to come up with a plan to get through the security guards and some of the Meet The Press staff who were never too impressed with folks on the local news side. So even though I had only 20 minutes before my own newscast, I bolted back to the green room area with my heart still about to pound out of my chest, devising a way to meet him.
I walked around the green room in circles, glancing inside each time just to make sure he was still there. I probably passed that door six or seven times, sometimes thinking about giving up as to not make a complete idiot of myself or look too unprofessional. But realizing that I might never again have the opportunity to meet perhaps my biggest hero I decided to go for broke and walk directly into the green room in the middle of their conversation. This is how the introduction went:
Me: "Hello Rep. Waters and Dr. Poussaint. So glad you're here. Mr. Cosby, I just wanted to get in here and say hello just to meet you and shake your hand."
Cosby: "Come on in and have a seat and join us!"
Rep. Waters and Dr. Poussaint didn't seem too happy that I had barged in on their conversation but The Cos invited me to sit in an open spot on a couch next to his seat. I quickly forgot Waters and Poussaint were even in the room! Cosby had seen a report of mine on TV the day before and made a joke about it. When he learned I had been a defensive back on the football field, he stood up and got into a football stance to talk about how bad his knees had gotten and told me mine were heading down the same path. For nearly 10 minutes, Bill Cosby gave me my own personal standup routine, I laughed like I was 12 years old watching a Saturday morning episode of Fat Albert, and The Cos made me feel like I was his best friend. In recent days and months, we've learned that it was all a lie.
What many of us have learned from Cosby's sad, painful and monstrous past is that celebrities and people we idolize cannot only wow us with their talent, charm, and personality they can also fool us with those attributes. And I may be saddened learning that a hero of mine could violate and attack so many people for so long, but what about the women who were actually victimized? Women who so many refused to believe and whose lives were turned upside down? Several of them have said that the revelation of Cosby's 2005 testimony has brought them vindication and the first real opportunity to heal. I truly hope that is the case.
For many years, I had always lamented about never snapping a picture of me and The Cos to mark our meeting and really to brag about hanging out with one of my heroes. As I think about the lives that have been damaged and the facade that recently has been shattered, I'm actually thankful I don't have a picture to remember that moment.
You can read more about Keith Garvin and how to contact him here.
