Forty years ago…

...my dad scraped together a 24 hour news network. It had existed in his (and Hig’s) mind for decades. At age 59, the opportunity to build it appeared in the guise of Reese Schonfeld and Ted Turner.

One early Sunday morning, my phone rang. “Cheryl, I’m having cold feet. Your mother doesn’t want to leave CA. Your brother doesn’t want to leave Palos Verdes High. Am I making a mistake?”

“Go daddy, go. This is the opportunity with your name on it. We’ll all follow your lead. Mom will come around. My brother will adapt.”

I arrived at the funky door of a rundown shack-like building to find my dad, dressed in his 3 piece suit. Despite the surroundings, he was appalled that I was wearing sandals. Being a Californian, I had forgotten his formal NY business expectations. Due to my foot attire, he opted not to introduce me around. Ed, no relation, Turner popped into the office and I suppose my father felt obliged to own me but no one else had the pleasure.

My brother showed up wearing a suit that thoroughly impressed Burt until he realized it was his best suit that Gary had taken from his closet.

Fast forward a few years and this time I know to dress myself and my son formally for the visit to the brand new CNN Center. My dad parked his Lincoln in his spot, we crossed the bridge and were greeted by the security guards.

Thirty-one years later, my son and I stood at the open trunk of my dad’s Lexus, where Benjamin changed into my dad’s shoes and suit jacket to wear to his grandfather’s memorial : “I have some big shoes to fill, which happen to fit perfectly, as some of you may recognize this suit jacket I am wearing.”