4 things to watch 4 -- Friday, November 22nd

Motel

Jason Carr: I’m an unapologetic nostalgia dude. Sometimes I’ll have random thoughts about using too much powder to make really strong Tang. Or that specific jingle they played for Farmer Jack savings time on the AM radio. Very jarring and tinny.

So I come here to praise the motor court motel with the swimming pool in the middle of its front lawn.

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I went with my grandparents in their Buick on a lot of National Lampoon’s Vacation-style road trips when I was young. To Arizona. To Florida. To Texas, Missouri and Arkansas. And more. And my distinct memory of these vacations was that we always stayed at a motel (rarely a hotel or—gasp—the Holy Grail that was a Holiday Inn Holidome with the INDOOR pool). And these drive-in-and-park, Bates Motel-adjacent strips of identical rooms always had the in-ground pool surrounded by typical weathered patio furniture and faded NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY metal signs hanging off a very specific kind of cyclone chain-link fencing.

My grandparents weren’t dummies. I now realize if you have a elementary-aged grandson with the attention span of a gnat and the energy of Godzilla you need to wear him out. Especially if he’s consumed three Cokes and two sleeves of Reese’s peanut butter cups on your watch. Prescription: pool.

Once in the water I basically became a fish. I never wanted to leave. Especially if I made friends with some other vacationing kids I knew I’d never see again. It’s like you’re best friends for a day. Weird concept but true.

Even more bittersweet: the memory of this very pretty girl I met at a motel pool when I was probably 11 or 12. We spent the entire day in blazing Missouri sun swimming and laughing and talking. Totally innocent but I was crushing on her big time, and trying to make sense of how I was feeling. And it probably comes as no surprise when I assure you I had the worst sunburn of my entire childhood that evening. Like so bad I was blistering, but made even worse because I would never see The Girl again.

Sunburns fade but the innocence of youth hangs on in the form of nostalgia, for which I am unapologetic, as I already said.

Here’s what’s coming up on Friday, November 22, 2019 on Local 4 News Today

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All Morning -- Friday Weather and Beyond

Brandon Roux: Showers should be gone early as temps start to tumble Friday starting in the upper 30s to low 40s and ending mainly in the upper 30s with winds WNW 7-17 mph keeping wind chills in the 20s at times. It will be a dry day Friday and we should also see a decent amount of sunshine. So, It’s back to the cool stuff this weekend with 20s early and highs only 38-43°F both weekend days.

  • Get the full forecast here

All Morning -- Weekend Construction

The weekend is near, and that means more construction crews will be busy across Metro Detroit. Our Kim DeGiulio will have a rundown of what you can expect. She’ll also be watching the roads for us all morning.

  • Check traffic conditions in your neighborhood here

All Morning -- Impeachment Recap

The final impeachment hearing is happening Thursday. There have been several big moments and even more are expected. We’ll have a complete recap for you and look ahead at what’s next.

6:40 a.m. -- Your Neighborhood

We’re going inside a home that’s helping give young adults a second chance. Evrod Cassimy will show us how they’re providing free food, a free place to stay and helping these young adults their GED and a job.

ICYMI

❓Today’s Trivia Retake❓

Every weekday morning at 6 a.m., we ask you a trivia question on Local 4 for a chance to win a prize.

  • Thursday Question: Who are the 2019 Grand Marshals of America’s Thanksgiving Parade?
  • Answer: The Detroit Youth Choir & former Detroit Mayor Dennis W. Archer
  • Be sure to watch daily at 6 a.m. and click this link to enter for a chance to win.

National Days: November 22nd

  • National Cranberry Relish Day

History Highlights: November 22nd

  • In 1906, the “S-O-S” distress signal was adopted at the International Radio Telegraphic Convention in Berlin.
  • In 1935, a flying boat, the China Clipper, took off from Alameda, California, carrying more than 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight.
  • In 1954, the Humane Society of the United States was incorporated as the National Humane Society.
  • In 1955, comic Shemp Howard of “Three Stooges” fame died in Hollywood at age 60.
  • In 2013: On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the city of Dallas paused to honor the fallen leader.

Celebrity Birthdays: November 22nd

Celebrating a birthday Friday? Submit a Sunshine Award here and we could say your name on Local 4 News Today during our 6 a.m. show.

Here's who you're sharing a birthday with --

  • Comedian-director Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) is 79.
  • Guitarist-actor Little Steven (The E Street Band, “The Sopranos”) is 69.
  • Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is 61.
  • Actress Mariel Hemingway is 58.
  • Actor Stephen Geoffreys is 55.
  • Actor Mark Ruffalo is 52.
  • Actress Scarlett Johannson is 35.
  • Actor Dacre Montgomery (”Stranger Things”) is 25.

Local 4 News Today links