Getting Don Michaels’ Autograph

We had driven to Fortuna for the day to visit family. On our way back to Klamath, my folks decided to treat the six of us to dinner at the Sizzler in Eureka, California.

This was special as we generally ate whatever snacks Mom made for us in the car. It was less expensive this way.

While eating, I saw a face I recognized; a local news anchor. While I do not recall if he worked for KVIQ or KIEM, I jus’ knew he was a face invited into our living room each evening.

“Look,” I excitedly whispered, “Don Michaels.”

The look that shot between Mom and Dad was one of shock. To this day I don’t know if it was because I didn’t stutter through the sentence or if it was because at nine-years-old, I knew who this man was.

“C-c-can,” I stammered, “I go get h-h-h-his auto-toe-toe-graph?”

Jus’ the thought of doing this made me so nervous I could hardly speak. Dad said I should wait for he and his wife to finish their dinner.

“But, th-th-th-they’re a-a-almost d-d-done,” I insisted, growing more afraid I’d miss my chance to meet someone I thought as famous.

Mom craned her neck to look and agreed with me. That’s when Dad handed me the notepad and pen he always had on himself, giving me his permission.

Before I lost my courage, I jumped up and rushed across the restaurant and approached his table. His wife saw me as I walked up to him.

He turned and said, “Hi, young man.”

I nearly turned and ran because of my bashfulness of the moment.

Instead, I swallowed hard and asked, “C-C-Can I g-g-get y-y-your auto-g-g-graph?”

Without hesitating, he took the pad and pen and wrote out his name. I wanted to tell him that one day I wanted to be like him, but I was fearful my stuttering would take to long to get the sentence out.

So I smiled, “Thank-k-k you,” hurrying back to my family’s table.

Somewhere over the years, I lost that autograph and I forgot about Don Michaels. He eventually left broadcasting and I think he may have gone into politics.

It would be great to know.