My sincere thanks to everyone who is posting on this blog. I have enjoyed your comments and appreciate the time you take to do so. I know I’m not holding up my end in this process by posting as much as I should. I’ll try and do better.
Now, on to Dave Freeman, the "chief" meteoroligist for Channel 3 News in Wichita. I’ve met Dave and he’s a good guy. He didn’t seem to take himself seriously off camera.
On camera? Or on the airwaves? Little different story.
Have you heard the commercial that runs on radio in which Freeman says something like this: Kids are scared of storms and parents in Wichita and surrounding communities would be wise to sit those kids down and tell them that Dave Freeman is watching out for them. Freeman always speaks with such earnestness about the weather. And yes, I realize weather can be a very serious matter. But to suggest that parents need to gather the kids around for a talk about Dave Freeman _ well, it seems a little self-indulgent.
Parent: Kids, we know you’re a little antsy when there’s thunder and lightning. So your mother and I just want to tell you that one of our weathermen, "chief" meteoroligist Dave Freeman, is going to take good care of us.
Kid: Daddy, I want some soup.
Parent: Now, now, you have to listen to us about this. Weather is important. Just listen to Dave, he’ll tell you. He’s on TV all the time.
Kid: SpongeBob is on TV? Does Dave Freeman know SpongeBob?
Parent: Hey, I’m serious. Weather is serious. Dave is serious. Please pay some attention to this. When there is the threat of bad weather, we’ll all gather around the television and listen to Dave.
Kid: My thumb hurts.
Parent: Don’t you understand? Dave Freeman wants to make us safe. Especially you kids. He’s a "chief" meteoroligist.
Kid: A chief medeur-what?
Parent: I give up. We’re switching to Merril Teller.