Yesterday I traipsed out to the Overland Park Convention Center for the Live Well Expo.  I didn’t go there to live well, mind you.  I went because I am now a “television co-host” and my presence (along with 25+ other on-air staffers) was requested.

I’ve worked (in relative obscurity) for so long behind-the-scenes in TV that it’s weird being recognized.  And by recognized I mean I had one very nice lady state, “Hey, you’re that one guy from that one show who sits beside that one chick, yes?”

Yes, ma’am.  That’s me.  (And that’s Michelle … aka “that one chick” beside me.)

This is not my first foray into meeting and greeting the general public.  For eight years I was in charge of running promotions at the Iowa State Fair for my former TV station.  I’d shuttle anchors around in golf carts.  I’d mosey down with them to the Grand Concourse for a corndog.  Or we’d end up at the Midway trying out the latest rides.  No matter where we went, they were instantly recognized.

It would always crack me up to watch them go from co-worker/friend to “anchorperson extraordinaire” in the blink of an eye.  They’d flash a megawatt smile and big handshake to whoever caught their eye or yelled their name.  1.2 seconds after the fan interaction was over, they’d go back to bitching about their sunburn or how expensive teeth whitening can be.

I watched our anchor team do an impressive amount of glad-handing yesterday with their adoring public.  They waved, smiled, kissed babies and schmoozed to the Nth-degree.  I stood in awe.

The highlight of my day yesterday?  I ran in to Sue Mason.  She was an aforementioned anchor from my old station.  I adored her.  She now lives in KC and does PR for various companies.  She was working at the expo and ran up to me and gushed over my new show.  It was beyond surreal, given that I used to ensure she didn’t have any errant hairs flying around before she went on air.

Everything at the Expo went swimmingly.  It was quite an interesting day of seeing and being seen.  That is … until I got home and noticed I had a poppy seed firmly entrenched between my teeth from a sandwich I wolfed down before the event.

Really, Sue … REALLY?  You couldn’t help a brother out?  You’re killing me.