Another different day at the office

One of the things I always tell people about my job is that every day is different. It sounds like a cliche, and fine — sometimes it is. But for the most part it’s true.

I wished that wasn’t the case Friday, as afternoon slowly turned into evening. I could have used some routine right around then, but somebody called about a suspicious package in the law library adjacent to the Curry County Courthouse.

Not counting the ones that followed the August library shooting, because I gave up trying to count, I’ve now personally been on the scene for two bomb threats. The first one happened years ago, when a guy was concerned about his car and the campus got shut down after the bomb-sniffing dog alerted. We later found out the dog alerted to gunpowder residue from a hunting rifle.

I’ve thankfully never witnessed a bomb threat that materialized. Nobody I talked to at the perimeter set up Friday afternoon had either, and it was true when we left more than three hours after the call first came.

OK, so one guy remembered a bomb threat that became a bomb. That, however, happened when he was enlisted military serving overseas in combat, not a rank-and-file patrolling the streets of an American city.

But you always have to presume things are legitimate. So we waited. And we waited. And random conversations started:

• I reminded our reporting crew of a grammar pet peeve. “You can evacuate a building, and you can evacuate people. They are different processes, and they should never be confused.”

• Another reminder: An ordnance is a weapon or a branch of the military that works with arsenals. An ordinance is a piece of legislation passed by commissions and councils.

• The movie “Borat” is an indefensible piece of garbage, but it’s hilarious and nobody regrets watching it.

• If it gets cold and windy and you don’t have a vehicle to get in, most trucks dispense a nice little pocket of heat just above the wheels.

• Knowing there’s hot apple cider at the office can be quite a motivator.

• Cannon Air Force Base’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit has some of the nicest, most genuine people who will ever absolutely refuse to tell you anything if you’re a reporter. No names of crew, no operation details, not even the name of that robot that reminded the newsroom of Johnny Five (Google it, millennials; you won’t regret it). I assumed they were under strict orders to never say a word until the public affairs office clears it, but I also figured the answer’s no if you don’t ask.

Above all, it’s always interesting to find out what local first responders did before they were first responders. It’s more convenient to think they were just born in those uniforms, but most of them have amazing stories about their military service or their previous agency.

All in all, it was a good experience, and proof that most days are different. Maybe next time, we can chat while we’re waiting for chicken wings.

And maybe some cider.

Kevin Wilson is managing editor of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at: [email protected]