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We here at Nightly News are big into holiday fun. We do, after all, have the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree right outside our door, and it puts us in a festive mood. So, again this year, we played Nightly-wide Secret Santa -- you know, where everybody picks somebody else's name, keeps it a secret, and presents that person -- anonymously -- with a stocking stuffer. We exchange Secret Santa gifts on the day of our office holiday party (which begins very shortly, and this year, we're going bowling).
More than half the fun is trying to guess who one's Secret Santa is -- does the handwriting on the card look like a man's or a woman's? Is my Secret Santa that shy person two cubicles away from me? Oh, wait--it's the person who's giggling whenever I walk by! -- but really, I can never guess. The idea is that Secret Santas reveal themselves to their Secret Santees at the party.
This year, my present, perfectly giftwrapped, was sitting on my desk when I came in this morning. Imagine my delight when I opened it, and it was the entire first season of "That Girl" on DVD! (Now it can be told: I am the unnamed "staff member" Brian referred to in his Monday blog, who had
watched some 20 "That Girl" episodes on TV Land over the weekend.) I have to admit, it did not occur to me for most of this day that Brian could possibly be my Santa. That would have been just too weird -- but more on that in a moment.
All day, I insisted that this colleague or that one was DEFINITELY my Secret Santa, only to be told, "it wasn't me." Then, suddenly, at about 5:45p.m., it hit me clear as day: it WAS Brian! It was Brian!
As he walked back in the newsroom from the Nightly News set, where he had just talked live on the air to the anchors at our New York station WNBC, I, um, well, shouted: "Brian! You're my Secret Santa! Aren't you! Aren't you?" His head was down, his stride was steady, but there was no mistaking that smile. He was. Brian was my Secret Santa!
Now, as I told him, I'll need at least three days off to watch my 30 new episodes AND all the "bonus features." Oh, and the best part? Brian also had a Secret Santa -- and it was me! What are the odds of that? Weird, huh? I'll let Brian tell you what Secret Santa left under his tree.
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Waiting and watching
Thank you Barbara for your post. A refreshing distraction with exquisite timing. Far as the man of the hour goes, I am sure that he wishes for many surprise gifts that he can share with the people in his life, like a Lear or a Citation with a big peacock emblazened on the tail. I am sure he wishes his career would bring him to more places with smiling faces of hope, faces farming prosperity. Places where folks get along with eachother by respecting eachother. Places where things are running the way they are supposed and people show they care not just verbalize. Barbara, Brian has what he needs, family, friends and a storybook successfull career with excellent colleagues. Short of they keys to the Jet, whatever you gave Brian, sure it will brighten his day.
Ellen North Castle, NY (Sent Dec 15, 2006 1:55:02 PM)
That's quite a story about "Secret Santa." Thanks! One year some time ago our office did that (with small gifts for the first 4 days of the week and a larger gift for the party) and it was fun--though for me it was challenging because I was "Secret Santa" for my boss at the time. But I think he liked what I got him because for the first 4 days I got him Christmas decorations--and since then he's been displaying them in his office every year. Have a joyful holiday season, and I hope you get lots of time off so you can watch all 30 of those "That Girl" episodes and the extra stuff!
Olivia, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Dec 15, 2006 11:14:33 AM)
Barbara ... where do I begin?
First of all, I must admit to being pea-green over your gift of "That Girl" DVD's from a certain "Secret Santa" -- what fun!!! Second, if one is going to watch television all weekend long, I would vote for something on TV Land over C-Span ... there are many, many more giggles per show, I'm certain, on TV Land (my humble opinion, and no offense meant to the C-Span fans out there). Third, OMG!!! If I had been you, I would have been begging and pleading with someone to trade names with me!! Brian is my favorite news anchor, but being his "Secret Santa" would be just too stressful :-). I hope he chooses to mention what your gift was to him ... my curiosity is getting the better of me, I'm afraid. And lastly ... did you mention that you shouted? (uhm ... Brian doesn't really care for it when people speak in loud tones about their more private affairs. It gets him all wound up, bless his heart. Oh, wait ... you weren't using your cell phone at the time, so I guess that's okay, then -- just kidding, Brian ... wink, wink, tease, tease LOL !!!!!)
You probably could have gotten away with asking for four days off ... there's all those intermissions to be taken to pop popcorn, and to answer the door for the pizza delivery ... well, except that one ring right before the marathon begins ... that ding-dong might be me, all the way from Mississippi -- shall I bring my famous lasagna? Or, I could ask my friend to cook us up a pot of his authentic Creole Gumbo (well, not AUTHENTIC-authentic ... there are a few things I'd ask him to omit from the pot, for both our sakes -- yuck).
I hope you enjoy your gift, Barbara. You can "get a life" (Brian's words, sort of, from Monday's blog) once you've finished viewing/enjoying all the episodes on the DVD's. I wonder ... how fast did Brian have to scurry, after you revealed how you spent your weekend, to get that DVD set ready to put on your desk this morning? I would say that he's typical of most men, waiting until the last minute; however, he'd argue that it really wasn't the LAST minute, so I'll just keep my lips zipped about that.
Have a lovely, lovely Holiday, Barbara !!!
Cyrena
Cyrena, Vicksburg, Mississippi (Sent Dec 15, 2006 3:59:19 AM)
Barbara,
Season’s greetings to you! Having lived in southern California for most of my life the concept of Christmas looming just around the corner escapes you until you set foot inside a department store or the local mall the night before Christmas Eve, however reading your post sure put me in the holiday spirit!
Thanks for sharing your Secret Santa story! It’s good to know that even with all the hard work being done each day at Nightly News, the network still carves out some much deserved fun-time for its employees. I have to admit that when I read your post I was a wee bit jealous; how much cooler can it get than having Brian Williams end up being your Secret Santa and getting you something you actually wanted?
I used to be an intern at GEAE (now GE Transportation) and I loved it; the experience, the work environment, the people I got to work with and had the opportunity to meet. I made some life-long friends that year. After reading your post tonight, I flirted with the idea of a career change, CPA to journalist? Sounds like a logical leap, no?
Anyway, happy holidays!
Alexis, Redlands CA
Alexis, Redlands CA (Sent Dec 15, 2006 12:11:59 AM)
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