News at Nine

I made the news last night. Fox News at Nine! A bit of a joke but somewhat fun as well. I have already been stopped once by someone on the train and asked “Was that you on the News last night?” Yup, it sure was. I was called yesterday afternoon by Max Roth local all star reporter for the Fox affiliate asking me some disability type, A.D.A. questions. I answered, opinionized a little and the next thing I knew he was calling back to ask where I might meet him for an interview. I was not sure how much of this operation I wanted related to my office—I mean I could justify the event if I really thought I needed to but still I thought it best to do the interview away from the office and on my own time, so that I can step away from “ flash” if I need to.

I told Max Roth I would meet him at the KFC on 5900So and State round 6:00pm. This was cutting it close for me since I was on the train—we exchanged cell numbers as decided that who ever got there first would call the other. I zoomed out the office and of course left the scrap of paper with Max’s number right on my desk. So when I did get to my end point I just held up at the Beans and Brew with a hot cup of chai. I was there about 15 minutes when he called at the KFC in front of me. We talked for a few minutes he introduced me to his film crew (one camera chick and a Intern from BYU??? Anyway we decided to recreate the situation in Park City i.e. a Wendy’s who would not serve a customer in a wheelchair at their drive thru window. I powered up and drove my chair up to the speaker(they could not see me—so I ordered) and then went up to my next window paid
No problem, actually the reported paid for what ever I wanted. Bummer, I really do not like Wendy’s food so I got a bacon burger and ended up giving it to Dianne for lunch today. What was interesting was as we were filming( the crew was behind me following me through the drive-thru)—some white guy in a whiteshirt and tie was screaming in the background about how they could not be filming. This person was so adamant that the crew did stop filming, unbelievable. They had got enough footage. Plus, he guy who the article was about had good footage and they had enough of me to do their story.

I was a little disappointed in the way the story ran. It turned out to be more about the “dangers” of going through the drive-thru in a wheelchair then a civil rights issue. But, that’s life in the fast lane—you get some breaks and sometimes you don’t. For many people just seeing a crip on the screen is enough to bring about awareness—so some good would be done. For me it mas fun , somewhat exciting and more video to add to the collection of my life on film. NEWS AT NINE !