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I've got the skills

It was a Friday morning this August and I was driving home to Paducah. I pulled in to the Allsup's in Crowell and immediately knew something big was going on.
Beer trucks were everywhere.
It hit me -- Foard County had voted in May to go wet -- and now, the beer was here.

I grabbed a Coke, not a cold brewski. (Liquor sales wouldn't officially begin until the next morning). I paid at the counter and hopped back in my car.
And then I realized that I was a reporter and news -- big, frothy news -- was happening right in front of me.
I admit I cursed a little. It was my day off and I was headed home.
"But the news never sleeps," I could hear my editor, Wilson, beating into my head.
I went back into the store, this time as Journalist Lara.
I interviewed the store manager and then headed to the courthouse to talk to County Judge Charlie Bell.
As I climbed the steps of the courthouse, I realized that I wasn't what you would call dressed to impress.
My jeans had needed washing three wears ago and had a fresh stain on them from the burrito I'd eaten earlier in the day.
My flip-flops had seen better days and my hair was kind of up, kind of down, mostly dirty.
And then there's my T-shirt. Ahh, the T-shirt. It was neon blue and said -- in big, colorful, capital letters -- "I've got the skills to pay the bills."
No joke.
I walked into Judge Bell's office and introduced myself to the woman sitting at the desk inside.
"Hello, my name is Lara Richards. I'm with the Times Record News and I've got the skills to pay the bills."
OK, so I didn't say it like that, but I might as well have.
I quickly explained to the judge's secretary, Marilyn, why I was there and -- more importantly -- why I was dressed like a ruffian. The judge was out of the office, so I ended up calling him on the phone.
I finished my interviews in Crowell, and me and my skills hit the road.
Being a journalist means always being on the lookout for news, even if I'm dressed in a ratty T-shirt on my day off.
And I guess I'm OK with that.
After all, I've got the skills to pay the bills.

Posted by Lara Richards at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)