Andy Avalos, my favorite weatherman, is retiring today. Since 2003, he's been a positive and comforting presence on my TV screen. There have been sleepy, confused Friday or Monday mornings when I thought it was the weekend but realized I had to get my ass out of bed because I saw Andy, my weekday weatherman.
Before covid, he would do a weekly remote at Chicago's Anti-Cruelty
Society, spotlighting pets who need homes. He ended those spots with,
"Always make pet adoption your first option." During covid, his own
(one-eyed) dog and cat frequently crashed his from-home broadcasts. I
can tell by the casual, confident way he handles these critters that he
really is a pet person. (He's also mentioned a bird that sits on his
shoulder while he reads.)
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| "Always make adoption your first option" |
Over the years I've learned that he is cheap (he prefers "thrifty"), loves (free) donuts, wears a snowman tie if he expects to report accumulation, and always looks sharp -- a former USAF pilot, that was drilled into him during his service and he's carried it with him for life.
I will miss him.
I am good friends with the spouse of our local anchorman, who has been on the air for 38 years. He was the weatherman and then moved into the anchorman's position a few years ago. When Robin retires, I know it will be good for them personally, but it will be a shock not to see him on the 6 p.m. news after all of these years. Kind of like not having Alex on Jeopardy! So I get you.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun when your local news people have been around a long time. I think our current team has been around at least 25 years. They become part of our family. Sad when they retire! But it sounds like you had a good run with Andy.
ReplyDeleteOur local station is a training ground for recent graduates--so they start out rather green and get better and better then they go off to larger markets.
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