In 1991, I graduated eighth grade in June and started a new high school in September. It's probably the time I was most concerned about who was calling our house. We had two phones with long curly cords -- one in the kitchen, one in Mom and Dad's room -- and both were tethered to the walls.
The fastest I've ever run in my life was when the phone rang in middle school. To catch any call coming for me, and to screen the calls coming to my sisters and parents.
"MacEachens' residence, Kelly speaking." I would answer, huffing and puffing.

One weeknight, the phone rang during family dinner.
Because we were all seated for supper, I didn't dare hop up.
Dad went to answer it.

From the table, we were totally tuned in:
"MacEachens' residence!"
{Pause.}
"There's no Larry here."
{Pause.}
"Is this Pat Barry? How you doin'?"

Back at the table, we were all confused. Pat Barry was the weatherman on the news at the time. None of us actually knew him.

After a couple minutes of shooting the breeze, Dad came back to the table.
We were incredulous. "Do you know Pat Barry, Dad?!"

"He dialed the wrong number, but I recognized his voice.
What a good guy."

A celebrity called our house. ACCIDENTALLY.
And then my dad made friends with him.
I was horrified, as any proper teenager would be.

But I was so stinkin' impressed too.
Impressed that Dad had made it to the phone without sprinting.
Impressed that he was (now) chums with a cel.e.bri.ty.
Impressed that engaging a stranger simply, taking interest in who he was, pausing for just a moment to connect, resulted in a new friend.

People are THE BEST.
LoveLoveLove,

**On the heels of Snowmageddon 2026, on this day when even more snow is falling on Cincinnati, shoutout to all the weather forecasters. Call us anytime.

**Did you see that we have our own social-media homes now?
IG: @letmetellyouthisgoodnews​
FB: Let Me Tell You THIS​
Follow along and invite your people; this kind of connection is the highest use of technology.