Trailers for a recent movie showed Keanu Reeves telling a woman something to the effect that 90% of life is showing up.
If you're reading this in McCormick Place in Chicago on (if the weather reports were correct) a chilly Sunday afternoon, thanks for showing up.
Strange time we live in, when one is moved to attempt quoting the star of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," isn't it?
I-like many of you, I suspect-was of two minds about coming to this conference. The prospect of traveling to a city I love to visit was enticing, as was the opportunity to connect with friends and business associates I hadn't seen in quite some time. But the thought of traveling by air and being far away from family for a few days wasn't high on my hit parade. But like you, I'm here, because all of our presences are important to show support for the industry at a time it sorely needs our props.
Back in all of our offices and homes, the level of tension has been high. By now, each of us has a tale of some postal scare to add to our repertoire of personal impact since Sept. 11. My husband's office, for example, called in the police to collect a suspect package with white dust on it early last week.
In my own home, I had an odd moment one morning. After sitting in on a lengthy teleconference discussing DIRECT's news coverage strategy for the anthrax crisis, I walked to my front entryway to collect the mail that just dropped through the slot. My eyes widened with suspicion at the puffy, clearly hand-sealed white envelope lying address-side down on top of the pile.
Using only my fingertips I gingerly lifted the package to see the other side...and immediately felt like a paranoid idiot with delusions of being Dan Rather. No death to the U.S.A. warnings here, just a belated birthday gift from my mother (who is certainly no terrorist).
Sigh.
A strange time, for sure. Again, thanks for showing up. Here's wishing everyone a prosperous, enjoyable and safe conference. Peace.
