Trying Times on a Global and Personal Level

It has been several days since I posted my last blog entry. For days, if not weeks, I have created titles for blogs that I intended to post or written pieces of blogs and failed to post them. If you look at the origins of the Glick Report dating back to early January when I took my first trip to Davos, Switzerland, this blog was about the behind the scenes look at the financial world, the television world and about some of the personal highs and lows that I experienced.

Somewhere along the way I pulled back on the personal stories, switched gears and made this blog a forum for how this financial crisis started, ways to address it and the risks to our economy. I have absolutely no regrets about doing that. In fact, I am thrilled that this blog has become a place to debate the issues that matter most to us as we approach this historically important election.

I have never been more glued to a political election than I have been to this one. Perhaps it is because the stakes are so high; perhaps because I want answers; perhaps because I yearn for unity as opposed to polarization in this country. Somehow, I find myself longing for the days post 9/11 when the American people collectively decided that no one could defeat the American spirit. Now, I see a country pointing fingers, angry about what happened to the companies and the executives who ran their businesses and demanding answers as well they should. Now I see the campaigns attacking one another in a way that they told us they wouldn't do. Remember when we were told that a McCain vs. Obama election would be constructive as opposed to destructive? Look at what is happening now. Is this what we want? Is this what we need at a time like this? Is this politics as usual? Perhaps, but can we afford it?!

One week ago Friday, my grandmother died. I was anchoring The Opening Bell, saw my dad's number on the caller ID and knew something had to be very wrong. On set, BusinessWeek was observing my show. Ironically, I had just broken one of the bigger stories about Citigroup’s exclusive agreement with Wachovia in the face of a Wells Fargo bid. The headlines were crossing, every wire citing Fox Business Network. Wells Fargo was hosting a conference call and analysts were asking Kovacevich, the head of Wells Fargo, if FBN was correct about an exclusivity agreement between Citigroup and Wachovia Bank and if he was aware of it. It was one of those mornings where fear and anger took center stage as we waited for the House to vote on the $700 billion rescue plan for the second time. I was as busy as I ever have been.

Growing up, I was very fortunate to have six grandparents. My parents divorced when I was little and my dad remarried while I was very young, so I had the added benefit of six grandparents watching over me. Grandma Pastore's loss is particularly difficult. She had a way about her. She approached life with such grace and elegance. She believed in the very best in everyone she met. I can't remember a single moment in my entire life when she didn't have something good to say about something or someone.

Though Grandma prayed to St. Anthony and other well-known saints, she embodied the qualities of one herself.

I looked up the definition of 'saint' on the morning of her funeral. A person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence. I couldn't think of a better way to describe her. She was my biggest fan and repeatedly told our family that someday I would be the next Katie Couric. You could imagine her great joy when I got the opportunity to sit next to Katie for a year co-anchoring the third hour of the Today Show. She was kvelling!

It has taken me time to post this blog, but I couldn't let this moment pass. In the frenzy of these markets and difficult times for all of us, milestones have been made. My oldest son Logan started first grade, my second son Kyle turned 5 and my baby Slate started a toddler program at our nursery school. This past weekend, I celebrated my 9th wedding anniversary with my husband.

In the past five or six weeks, I have had the opportunity of a lifetime to appear on multiple shows and networks to help digest the complexity of this financial crisis. From The View to Good Morning America to the CBS Early Show to Don Imus's radioshow to Barbara Walter's Sirrius Satellite Radio Show to O'Reilly to Studio B with Sheperd Smith and many other terrific programs. It has been a whirlwind.

Along the way friends and colleagues have said, "I don't know how you do it" -- implying how I juggle three little boys , 4 a.m. wake up calls, all day and all night television appearances on top of the rest of my day-to-day responsibilities.I can "do it," because of my husband Oren. When people talk about finding your mate, your partner, I thank God every day for blessing me with the most supportive husband. At times like these, we all need a little love and prayers. Mine come in the form of four men that I could not live without.

And a lot of help from Grandma. I can feel her prayers as we speak.