“My Granny’s gonna love this!”

Being a TV person, I confess to having a rather large ego.  It comes with the territory.  After all, if people don’t recognize me, they’re not watching, right? So it’s always nice when someone makes a fuss.

Since I’ve been on Chattanooga TV for 30-plus years, it happens to me now and then.  Some people call out my name, while others don’t.  They call me Darrell, or David Glenn, or my personal favorite, “Hey, you’re that dude on the news!” Some people do a double-take.  They’ll glance over, see me, and then their head jerks back as if to say, “I know him from somewhere.”  Others walk by, and when they think I’m out of earshot, they’ll say to their companion, “Did you see David Carroll?  He was the one with the mouthful of food, and ketchup on his chin.”  (They think I don’t hear them, but we TV folks have enhanced hearing.  That’s how we get news.)

One day, I was sitting with a group of my radio buddies.  We were just blabbing away, when this very attractive young lady stopped at our table, and started zeroing in on me.  As my head began to swell, she made it very clear that she knew me.  “David Carroll!” she exclaimed, much to my delight.  My friends were visibly impressed.  By now my head was about the size of a float in the Macy’s parade, and she came in a bit closer.  “I can’t believe I’m seeing you in person!” she squealed.

Now, people are usually nice, but I don’t get the rock star treatment that often, so I was digging this.  “I’ve GOT to have my picture made with you, would you mind?”  she asked.  Modestly, I told her I would be honored to be in a picture with her, hoping all the while my friends were taking this all in.  If they didn’t know it already, they were in the company of a Brad Pitt-like local celebrity, and they’d better be sufficiently impressed.

She handed her phone to a friend, I stood up to squeeze in for a photo, which she would surely enlarge into a poster suitable for framing.  We smiled for the camera, the friend snapped the picture, and she began to thank me for this special moment.  As my table-mates looked on in admiration, she shook my hand and said, “This is great!  My Granny’s gonna love this.  Granny said she grew up listening to you!”  As I sat back down, and my wise-cracking friends tried to suppress their laughter, I said the only sensible thing one could say in that situation.  “Check please!”  Oh well, I hope I put a smile on Granny’s face:

Granny

In other news, you can hear my pal Luther Masingill on Sirius XM Satellite Radio on Friday March 7, between 12 noon and 12:30 p.m.  He’ll be interviewed by Phlash Phelps, of “60s on 6” on, of course, Channel 6.  Phlash’s mom grew up in the Bonny Oaks area, so he’s long heard about Luther, and although he hasn’t met him in person, he considers himself a fan.  Phlash (pronounced “Flash”) has been on the 60s channel since the beginning, 14 years ago, after a long and varied run of radio jobs throughout the country.  He’s amazed at Luther’s longevity, and plans to ask him about his 73-plus year career, all at WDEF.  In fact, Luther will celebrate his 60th anniversary on TV next month when WDEF Channel 12 observes its 60 years on the air.

Luther and an admiring fan in the 1950s.

If you have satellite radio, you can join listeners nationwide as they hear about Luther’s life, including being on the air when the news broke of the bombing on Pearl Harbor, his service in World War II, and his fitness regimen.  Luther is excited about speaking to a national audience, in advance of his 92nd birthday on Sunday.  “These satellite people do their shows out of Washington D.C., so maybe the president is listening,” he said.  Oh yes.  As well as the people in New York, Texas, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, hundreds of miles out into the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and the Great Lakes.  Tell everybody hello from the Scenic City, Luther, and Happy Birthday!  Here’s a blast from the past: some brief “Luther and David” bloopers from Channel 12’s 30th anniversary in 1984.

Finally, here’s an update on our friend Chris DeRogatis.  Many of you were kind enough to read and watch my story about Chris last week.

He’s a junior at Central High School, and was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on Valentine’s Day.  A kind viewer named Pat Guffey of Soddy-Daisy calls herself “The Hat Lady,” and she offered to make some hats for Chris and his sister Sammy.  Pat said, “Each hat is created and stitched with love by me, Nana Pat.” Several of the hats featured the lovable minions from the “Despicable Me” movies.

Sammy DeRogatis

Sammy was thrilled to get her hat, and to deliver the others to Chris.  He’s spending a few days at home now, resting from some intense chemotherapy treatments.  There are five more cycles of chemo, so keep Chris in your thoughts and prayers.  His Facebook page banner headline reads, “I Can and I Will…Watch Me!”  Chris and his family are so appreciative of your support.  It sure helps to have sweet people like the Hat Lady on his side!

With the Hat Lady, Pat Guffey