My Big Chance with Terry

I've had an extensive professional crush on NPR's golden child and creator of "Fresh Air", Terry Gross, for quite a while. Due to a touch of good karma, sharing a studio space and synchronized bathroom schedules, I had found myself face to face (or side by side at the sink) with her multiple times.

Our encounters were less than forgettable...for her. For me they became journal entries as I replayed the exchange over and over again.

Kelly: Oh, hi. How are you? Sorry my stuff is all over the sink. It looks like I vomited the contents of my bag all over the counter. Sorry. Oops. Here, let me get that for you. Sorry. Ha. I'm a mess.

Terry: (Pause) Okay.

My network found a new studio space and we were no longer going to rent space from NPR in Philadelphia so my time with Terry was running short. I baked holiday cookies to take around the office with the hope of wowing her with my mad baking skills, but her producer assured me Terry wouldn't be interested. I tell myself it's a gluten intolerance and not personal.

It wasn't until a few days before our departure that I finally got my chance to change her life.

Terry's paper holder went missing. It became my personal mission to make sure she got it back and that it stayed in her possession. I spoke with the building management, with our production team, other NPR reporters. Terry found the paper holder but the culprit remains a mystery.

It was my last day at NPR. I was done shooting my show and had one final chance to grasp that long sought after connection. I straightened my shirt. Debated taking out my pigtails (the signature trait of my character) but decided they were better than having kinked hair. Restraightened my shirt. I knocked.

"Excuse me, Ms. Gross?" I said, my voice cracking.

"Oh, call me Terry." She said.

I smiled and let out a surprised and uncomfortable giggle but regained control quickly and continued. "Did you find out who took your paper holder?"

"No. But thank you so much for looking into that."

We talked about how valuable a paper holder can be to neck health. We chatted about my network and the show. I even had the chance to say how much I like her work. And when we parted ways she said "Good luck", but I know she really meant, "You're awesome Kelly. Let's be friends."