OUR FRIEND DIANE

 A few weeks ago Judy and I heard some disturbing news about our longtime friend, Diane Kalas.

She had suffered a stroke in Flagstaff, Arizona, and was in the hospital.

Diane is a vigorous 91 years old but a medical emergency at that age is frightening.

However, Diane being Diane, after a week in the hospital and ten days in a rehab facility she and one of her daughters and a mutual friend left for an annual vacation planned a year ago.

In her beloved Laguna Beach, California.

Diane had lived there as a young woman, fell in love with it and has returned year after year.

She says it works like a tonic to her and judging by her activity it has performed its magic once again.

I met Diane more than half a century ago when we found ourselves working for the same television station in Phoenix.

I was in awe of this woman who hosted a morning program called Today in Arizona.

She had a wall of signed photographs of movie stars, entertainers and politicians that she had interviewed.

Diane went on to success in radio stations in Pittsburgh, Boston and San Francisco before ending her career as "The Shell Answer Lady" for a California refinery.

In later years, she adopted a scruffy mutt she named Rags.

"Nobody better try to cheat my lady at cards!"

So Diane, keep on keepin' on, and this next one is just for you.