>> AS A PATIENT THAT I CARE FOR IT IS LIKE TAKING CARE OF MY OWN CHILD.

MY NAME IS CANDY AND I AM A NURSING ASSISTANT AT LIFESPAN.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE NICU FOR 10 YEARS.

I LOVE THE MIRACLES THAT WE SEE.

IT IS SO REWARDING, AND ALL THE FAMILIES WE GET TO HELP, THEY PUT THEIR CHILD IN OUR HANDS.

WE HAVE TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.

DELIVER HEALTH WITH CARE.

♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> TO ME, A CERTAIN IMAGE OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS IS NEVER GOING TO WAY.

THE AD EXECUTIVES DID A GOOD JOB OF IMPRINTING THAT IN OUR MIND, SO GLORIFIED WAITRESS, SEX KITTEN, OBJECTIFIED UNFORTUNATELY STILL LINGERS.

I HAD A PASSENGER SAY TO ME WHEN I SET I LOVE THAT BOOK, HE SAID YOU READ?

>> WAITING TO TRY TO GET TO HIM.

TRYING TO RUN PAST HIM, HE'S GOT PAST HIM.

HE HAS GOT CONTROL AND HE'S RUNNING THROUGH THE GOAL.

WOW, TALK ABOUT CONTROL.

I AM THE ANNOUNCER FOR THE NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL POLO SERIES.

IT IS NOT THAT FUNNY.

YOU HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN WE DO WITH ART, WITH MUSIC, WITH SPECTACLE, WITH ENGAGEMENT, TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT COMING DOWNTOWN.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

DAVID: IT IS THE FIRST WEEK OF SUMMER AND RHODE ISLANDERS LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY ARE ON THE MOVE PREFER MANY EVENTS WILL BE CLOSER TO HOME THIS YEAR.

PAMELA: IN THE OCEAN STATE WITH HUNDREDS OF MILES OF COASTLINE, DIVERSE COMMITTEES AND SOARING CULTURAL EVENTS, IT HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

OUR STORIES TONIGHT ARE ALL ABOUT ADVENTURE AND TAKING RISK.

FIRST UP, ACCLAIMED AUTHOR AND RHODE ISLAND NATIVE AND HOOD.

BEFORE SHE WAS A WRITER, SHE WAS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

HOOD HAS TAKEN TO THESE GUYS WITH A NEW MEMOIR, WHICH BEGINS AT A TIME WHEN THE OBJECTIFIED STEWARDESSES OF THE PAST WERE FIGHTING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS DURING THE WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT.

>> I THOUGHT I NEED ADVENTURES TO BE A GOOD WRITER.

WHERE AM I GOING TO GET ADVENTURES?

I GREW UP IN WARWICK, LED A SHELTERED LIFE, WENT TO URI, DID NOT FEEL INVOLVED AT ALL.

I THOUGHT I WILL BE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND HAVE EXPERIENCES.

>> PLEASE WELCOME AMBER ON HER FLIGHT.

>> LONG BEFORE SHE WAS IN ACCLAIMED NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, ANN HOOD WAS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

IT WAS THE LATE 1970'S WHEN WOMEN'S LIBERATION WAS A FLEDGLING MOVEMENT AND COMMERCIALS TO LORE BUSINESSMEN INTO BECOMING WHEN FLYERS LOOK LIKE THIS.

>> SLIP INTO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE.

>> ARE WE PUTTING YOU ON?

>> COAST TO COAST TO COAST.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

TWA INFAMOUSLY HAD PAPER UNIFORMS FOR A WHILE THAT USE TO RIP AS YOU WORE THEM AND THEY HAD TO DUCK TAPE THEMSELVES INTO THEIR UNIFORMS.

GRANITE FAMOUSLY HAD SOMETHING CALLED THE AIRSTRIP WHERE THEY CHANGE THEIR CLOSE FOUR TIMES IN THE AISLES.

THEY JUST KEPT TAKING THINGS OFF UNTIL.

SO WE GET WHY WE WERE OBJECTIVE FIGHT AND WHY THERE WAS THIS SEX KITTEN IDEA.

PAMELA: HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT, YOUR MAKEUP, HOW YOU LOOKED?

WITH SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THAT?

THAT HAD TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN OF IT?

>> I THINK IF YOU WANTED THE JOB, YOU KNEW YOU WERE ENTERING A CORPORATE CULTURE.

YOU KNOW, I'M A MEMBER WHEN MEN HAD TO WEAR PARTICULAR TIES.

-- I REMEMBER WHEN MEN HAD TO WEAR PARTICULAR TIES.

EVERY CORPORATION HAS AN IMAGE IT WANTS AND YOU SIGNING UP FOR IT.

PAMELA: WOMEN WERE ACCEPTING OF IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PAMELA: SHE SAYS SHE WAS PROUD TO WEAR RALPH LAUREN UNIFORM.

SHE FLEW FOUR YEARS WITH TWA, TRANSWORLD AIRLINES.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS UNIONIZED, FILE FOR EQUAL PAY AND ULTIMATELY, ENDED THE WEIGHT, MARRIAGE AND PREGNANCY RESTRICTIONS.

BUT IT WAS NOT EASY.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A FLIGHT ATTENDANT?

>> I HAD STARS IN MY EYES FROM THE TIME I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A WRITER TOO.

PAMELA: SO IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT BOOK FOR YOU TO WRITE GOOD WHAT TOOK SO LONG?

>> WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN HISTORY HAPPENS AROUND US AND CULTURE SHIFTS.

BUT WE ARE NOT EVEN THAT AWARE OF IT, YOU KNOW?

WE KEEP LIVING PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.

I REALIZE THAT I HAD REALLY COVERED A BIG CHANGE IN CULTURE, IN HISTORY AND IN AVIATION.

I STARTED IN 1978, WHERE MANY WOMEN STILL HAD ONE FOOT IN THE PAST.

JIMMY, A CERTAIN IMAGE OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS IS NEVER GOING TO GO AWAY.

THE AD EXECUTIVES DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF IMPRINTING THAT IN OUR MINDS.

AND SO, GLORIFIED WAITRESS, SEX KITTEN, OBJECTIFIED, UNFORTUNATELY STILL LINGERED GOOD I HAD A PASSENGER WANTS SAY OH I LOVE THAT BOOK.

HE SAID YOU READ?

BUT I NEVER THOUGHT IT REFLECTED ON ME.

YOU KNOW, I KNEW I WAS SMART.

I KNEW I WAS HEADING THE LIFE I WANTED.

AND I WAS LEARNING SOMETHING.

JUST LEARNING HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE.

PAMELA: YOU MUST BE UNFLAPPABLE?

>> I PRETTY MUCH AM.

YOU KNOW, ONE PASSENGER SAY AND DO THINGS THAT ARE SO WEIRD, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT ON THE SPOT.

OR YOU KNOW HOW TO DEFUSE ANGER, BECAUSE THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT IS THE ONE WHO GETS BLAMED FOR BAD FOOD, WHETHER, ANY FLIGHT DELAYS, MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, LOST LUGGAGE.

YOU COME ON, THE PASSENGERS COME ON READY TO BLAME THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM FEEL OK. PAMELA: BUT WHAT I SUSPECTED IN WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE IS THAT IT WAS THE MOST EMPOWERING JOB A YOUNG WOMAN COULD HAVE.

YOU MADE ALL THE DECISIONS ON THAT PLANE.

YOU DID NOT HAVE A BOSS REALLY.

YOU WENT ALL OVER THE WORLD AND OFTEN HAD TO VENTURE OUT BY YOURSELF IF THE CREW DID NOT WANT TO GO OUT OR DID NOT WANT TO GO OUT WITH YOU.

LEARN HOW TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES, TO THINK ON YOUR FEET.

YOU LEARNED POISE.

YOU WERE CONFIDENT.

YOU PUT ON THAT UNIFORM AND YOU BECAME A CONFIDENT WOMAN.

PAMELA: WHY DID YOU NOT WANT TO BECOME A PILOT AND HAVE THAT ADVENTURE?

>> I THINK I AM TOO MUCH OF A COWARD.

I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF LANDING A BIG PLANE LIKE THAT.

I AM NOT A RISK TAKER.

PAMELA: HMM, I WOULD SAY YOU TOOK A LOT OF RISKS DOING THAT WHEN YOU DID IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

HOOD WRITES ABOUT DEALING WITH ECCENTRIC PASSENGERS, LIKE THE TIME SHE FOUND A MAN SITTING ON THE PLANE WITHOUT HIS PANTS.

>> SIR, WHERE ARE YOUR PANTS?

AND HE SET UP THERE.

AND I SAID YOU HAVE TO HAVE PANTS ON TO HE SAID I CANNOT.

WHY CAN'T YOU WEAR YOUR PANTS?

I HAVE A JOB INTERVIEW AND THEY WILL WRINKLE.

AND SO, I FELT FOR HIM AND I GOT HIM A BLANKET AND HE SAT COVER THE WHOLE TIME, BUT THAT IS WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THINK THEM ON YOUR FEET.

>> YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS GOOD HAPPEN WHEN YOU GOT ON THAT PLANE.

I ALWAYS SAID LIFE UNFOLDS ON AIRPLANES.

YOU ARE IN THAT TIN CAN WITH 300 PEOPLE ON A 747 OR A SMALL PLANE THAT SET ABOUT A HUNDRED.

YOU ARE THERE FOR HOURS AND THINGS HAPPEN.

PEOPLE GO INTO LABOR, PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE, PEOPLE BREAK UP, PEOPLE DIED.

YET.

PAMELA: LITTLE BIT OF HOOD KNOW THAT SHE WOULD ONE DAY READ ABOUT THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER GRACE, TAKEN BY A FATAL FORM OF DESTRUCTIVE VIRUS.

>> ONE OF A WRITER'S JOBS IS TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF THE CHAOS THAT IS LIFE.

LIFE IS MESSY, LIFE IS HARD, AND A WRITER HAS TO HAVE THE BUILDING TO STEP BACK AND WRITE ABOUT THAT TRUTHFULLY AND BRAVELY, REALLY.

AND WHEN WE LOST GRACE, THAT WAS IN 2002.

I COULD NOT READ OR WRITE FOR OVER A YEAR.

I MEAN, I WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

AND THEN EVERYONE KEPT SAYING TO ME GENTLY AND NICELY, WRITE ABOUT IT.

I THOUGHT I CANNOT BECAUSE I CANNOT MAKE SENSE OUT OF SOMETHING SENSELESS.

AND THEN ONE DAY, I REALIZED WEIGHT, I GOT TO READ ABOUT THIS HONESTLY.

I WILL WRITE IT AS A NOVEL.

SO I CHANGED EVERYTHING, BUT I GOT TO THE EMOTION THAT IS HARD TO PUT OUT THAT TOLD ME THE REAL STORY.

AND I WROTE THE KNITTING CIRCLE.

AND THAT FREED ME TO WRITE THE REAL STORY.

PAMELA: THE REAL STORY, LIQUOR HER NOVEL THE KNITTING CIRCLE, BECAME A BESTSELLER.

-- LIKE HER NOVEL.

HER NOVEL COMFORT A JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF IS THE BOOK THAT HOOD SAYS SHE WISHED HAD BEEN AVAILABLE FOR HER.

>> OVER TIME, I HAD BEEN MAKING AS MUCH SENSE AS ONE CAN.

AND IF I PUBLISHED THAT BOOK, THERE WOULD BE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT.

AND THAT INDEED IS WHAT HAPPENED.

I GET LETTERS EVERY WEEK WHEN SOMEONE FINDS COMFORT AND READS IT.

PAMELA: DESPITE LOGGING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES IS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT, THE AUTHOR STILL HAS NOT FALLEN OUT OF LOVE WITH FLYING.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS WITH HER FAMILY.

HER HUSBAND IS A CHEF AND WRITER MICHAEL ROWLAND.

THERE IS ALSO GROWN SON SAM CONTINUED DAUGHTER ANNABELLE.

THEY TEASE HER THAT SOMETIMES SHE ACTS LIKE SHE IS STILL ON DUTY.

>> I AM EITHER THE MOST FUN PERSON TO FLY WITH ARE THE WORST, BECAUSE I AM SO -- PUT YOUR TRAY TABLE UP TO MY FAMILY.

IT'S TIME TO PUT YOUR TRAY TABLE UPCOMING ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT DOWN.

PUT THAT UNDER THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU.

PAMELA: OLD HABITS DIE HARD.

?

OH MY GOSH AND I CHECK IT OUT AND I AM ALWAYS AWARE IF THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

PAMELA: DO YOU CONFESS TO BEING A FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

>> YOU OFTEN GET A FREE BOTTLE OF WINE OR SOMETHING IF YOU TELL THEM, SO I ALWAYS DO.

PAMELA: WHY DID YOU NAME IT FLY GIRL?

>> BECAUSE IT HAS A DOUBLE MEANING.

TWA CALLED THEM HOSTESSES, NOT STEWARDESSES, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THEM, BUT THEY WERE ALL FLY GIRLS.

THAT WAS THE GENERAL NAME.

BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF FLY GIRL, LIKE SORE, LIKE TAKE OFF.

START A LIFE.

PAMELA: SO FLY, GIRL.

LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

PAMELA: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT NOW, WOULD YOU DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN?

>> 100%, I WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE ABOUT IT.

I EVEN SOMETIMES HAVE A FANTASY OF I WILL APPLY AGAIN.

I COULD DO IT FOR A COUPLE OF MORE YEARS.

PAMELA: BECAUSE AS SHE WRITES, NEVER HAD THE MAGICAL FLYING BEEN MORE OBVIOUS TO ME THAN ON A LONG-AGO DECEMBER FLIGHT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF 1985.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE 747 I WAS WORKING ON INVITING ME TO SIT IN THE COCKPIT FOR LANDING.

AND AS WE DESCENDED, SNOW STARTED TO FALL.

SMALL, BRIGHT FLAKES, LIKE FAIRY DUST.

THEN, MANHATTAN CAME INTO SIGHT.

THE AIR GREW TENSE, ELECTRIC WITH VOICES AND THE CRACKLES OF THE RADIO.

THE GROUND SEEMED TO LIFT UP TO GREET US, THE LIGHTS OF THE RUNWAY AND THE JET GREW BRIGHTER UNTIL THE WHEELS HIT THE GROUND AND SOMETHING -- IT'S SOMETHING, ISN'T IT?

THE CAPTAIN SAID SOFTLY.

I COULD ONLY NOD.

FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE HAVE I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING THAT FELT THAT MAJESTIC.

THAT REMINDED ME THAT I, THAT ALL OF US IN THIS WORLD ARE ALIVE.

WHEN I UNDERSTOOD OR UNDERSTOOD AS MUCH AS WE CAN, HOW SKY AND EARTH AND SNOW AND LIGHT CAN COEXIST.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] DAVID: UP NEXT, WE TAKE YOU TO AN ISLAND WHERE WE HEAR THAT ONE ENGLISHMAN IS FLYING THE FLAG FOR A RELATIVELY OBSCURE SPORT.

SENIOR PRODUCER ADJUSTER -- JUST IN HAS SPENT THE LAST FEW WEEKENDS IN THE COMMENTATOR'S BOOTH AT THE NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL POLO GROUNDS.

TO CAPTURE ONE MAN'S MISSION THROUGH PASSION AND SARCASM, TO ELEVATE THE EQUESTRIAN COMPETITION TO NEW HEIGHTS.

>> JUST TAPPING AROUND, DAN KEATING WAITING TO TRY TO GET TO HIM.

TRY TO RUN PAST HIM.

HE'S GOTTEN PAST HIM, HE'S GOTTEN CONTROL OF HIS BALL AS HE'S RUNNING THROUGH THE GOAL.

WOW, TALK ABOUT CONTROL.

>> I AM WILLIAM CHRIS AND I AND THE ANNOUNCER FOR THE NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL POLO SERIES.

IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY.

ALWAYS A MISS.

A RARE MISS.

TORI PICKS IT UP, STEWART GOES TO COVER HIM.

POLO IS THIS MOST AMAZING SPORT THAT REQUIRES HORSES.

YOU CAN PLAY INDOORS, SO AN ARENA, WHICH IS THREE A SIDE OR OUTDOORS, WHICH IS FOR ASIDE.

AND EACH PERSON RIDES A HORSE AND YOU TRY TO HIT A LITTLE WHITE BALL WITH A BAMBOO STICK THAT IS LIKE 50 INCHES LONG WITH A WOODEN HEAD.

AND THE BALL IS MADE OF HARD PLASTIC, IT'S ABOUT THREE AND A HALF INCHES IN DIAMETER, SO NOT THE BIGGEST THING TO HIT WHEN YOU'RE GALLOPING ALONG ON A HORSE.

AND THEN THE OPPOSITION IS ALLOWED TO BUMP INTO YOU ON THEIR HORSES AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE YOUR STICK.

SO IT IS QUITE ACTIVE.

YOU GOT TO GET YOUR HORSE TO THE BALL.

ONCE YOU GET THERE, YOU GOT TO HIT IT.

CHRIS TRIES TO OVER CUT IT, ON TOP OF THE BALL, GETS TO IT, PUSHING OFF, STICK DOWN, THERE WE GO.

COMES OFF, STOP BE APPEALING, GET THE HITTING GOING ON.

THIS IS THE BACKEND, CHRIS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

HE'S GOT THE TOP PONY HE IS ON.

LUCILLE GETS IN THE WAY.

IT IS THERE.

MARGUERITE, LOOKING AT THE GOAL, NOT THE BALL AND MISSED THE BALL.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE PLAYING IN ENGLAND AND 70 SAID TO ME, HEY WILLIAM DO YOU WANT TO GO TO NEWPORT?

THEY HAVE ASKED FOR A TEAM FROM ENGLAND.

YEAH, SURE.

SO I ENDED UP CAPTAINING OR BRINGING THE TEAM FROM ENGLAND IN THE VERY FIRST YEAR, SO THAT WAS 1991, 1992.

AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH NEWPORT.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT IS -- I AM STILL IN LOVE WITH IT, I CALL AT MY HOME TOWN TO DO I FELL IN LOVE WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL LADIES AND BASICALLY NEVER LEFT.

>> SENT A LOVELY SHOT TOWARD THE GOAL.

IT IS LEFT THERE FOR SOMEONE, DAN KEATING TRIES TO CLEAR.

HE DOES NOT, OR HE TORI DOES.

>> IT'S GOT A BAD RAP THE NAME POLO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, POLO IS THE KINGS PLAY OR SOMETHING.

IT'S GOT A POSH RAP, BUT IT IS NOT POSH AT ALL.

IT IS REALLY DOWN TO EARTH.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PLAYING, ONE OF OUR PLAYERS IS A WAITER.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

JUST STICK DOWN, HOOK IT.

THERE WE GO, PRESSURE.

CHRIS, NICE BACKHAND.

ANYBODY ON THE DR. TO STUART CAMPBELL AND THEN HE HAS GOT THE RIGHT.

AND HE IS GOING TO UNLOAD THIS BALL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN PLAY POLO, A LOT OF LADIES.

TWO WEEKS AGO, THREE WEEKS AGO, WE HAD THE LADIES VERSUS THE MEN AND THE LADIES ONE.

YOU'RE ON A HALF TON HORSE.

AND SO THE DIFFERENCE IN WEIGHT BETWEEN A MALE AND FEMALE WHEN THEY ARE ON A HALF TON HORSE IS NEGLIGIBLE, BECAUSE IT IS THE HALF TON HORSE.

IF YOU CAN RIDE A HORSE, YOU'VE GOT THE GAME DOWN, SO SURELY THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STRENGTH ISSUING HITTING THE BALL, BUT AS FAR AS TIMING, THEY PLAY JUST AS HARD AS THE MEN.

AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD WOMEN PLAYERS OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.

I MEAN, IT IS REALLY GOOD.

THEY ARE BETTER THAN A LOT OF THE MEN.

>> THERE GOES THE 7:30 BEL ENDING THE FIRST CHAPTER.

THE TEAMS HAVE OFTEN CHANGED THEIR PONIES.

YOU CAN IMAGINE EACH PONY RUNS MAYBE ONE OR TWO MILES EVERY JUNKER.

THEY ARE VERY FIT AND WELL LOOKED AFTER.

SO THEY WILL CALL FOR A BREAK AND THEN THE PONY IS ABLE TO DO A SECOND.

EACH PLAYER HAS A MINIMUM OF THREE HORSES AND MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE SIX.

I AM REALLY CONSCIOUS OF TRYING TO BRING THE SPECTATORS INTO THE GAME.

IT IS HARD, BECAUSE IT IS POLO, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THE RULES.

IN POLO, THEY CHANGE AFTER EVERY GOAL, NOT AFTER EACH QUARTER OR HALF TIME.

SO PEOPLE WILL BE WATCHING AND GOING WHERE THE GOING THAT WAY?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

SO I TRY REALLY HARD TO MAKE POLO AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE GAME AND REALLY BE ABLE TO GET INTO IT.

AND SO, THEY WILL GET INTO THE SUPPORTING OF THE TEAM AND THAT IS MY REAL AIM IS TO GET ENJOYMENT TO THE FANS THAT COME.

>> NOT EVEN A GRASS STAIN TO WASH OFF.

WE WILL HOPE FOR BETTER FALLS LATER ON.

THEY ARE ALWAYS INTERESTING.

>> YEAH, RORY, YOU HAD TO GO ACROSS THE LINE ABOUT FOUR TIMES THERE COULD I KNOW YOU DON'T THINK YOU DO, BUT YOU DO.

WE WILL STOP AND HANG AROUND FOR SEVEN MINUTES WHILE THEY MAKE UP THEIR MIND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

HEADLIGHTS ON THE CARS IF WE DON'T GET THIS THING OVER WITH SOON.

I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS LAST CHECK, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GO ABSOLUTELY FLAT OUT.

SHOWS A LINE OUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

>> SOMEBODY MENTIONED AN EXAMINATION?

REALLY, ANOTHER WHISTLE.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS TIME.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ENJOYED MY TYPE OF COMMENTATING.

I THINK I AM QUITE DRY.

PROBABLY MONTY PYTHON WEIRD HUMOR, WHICH AMAZINGLY, THANK YOU, PEOPLE GET.

AND SO, I ENJOY MY WEIRDNESS.

MY MOTHER CALLED ME THUMPER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AFTER THE RABBIT IN AND BE -- IN BAMBI.

WHERE SHE SAYS IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.

AND I PROBABLY SHOULD STILL BE CALLED NUMBER, BECAUSE I STILL SAY WHAT I THINK.

>> RORY IS TRYING TO TOUR IT.

LEO DOES WELL TO STOP HIM CAN CAMPBELL GET ON THE BALL?

IT IS UNDER THERE, UNLUCKY FOR HIM AND GET POPPED OUT.

TRIES TO TURN IT THE OTHER WAY.

AND IN COMES SAM CLEMENS AND THE WHISTLE GOES.

THIS IS WHERE IT GOES.

OH, IT'S TERRIBLE.

HE HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE GAME.

>> YOUR COMMENTATING IS BITING TOWARD SOME OF THE PLAYERS.

DO YOU EVER GET REACTIONS?

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BITING?

I ONLY SAY WHAT I SEE.

IT MIGHT NEEDLE THE PLAYERS OR EVEN THE UMPIRE A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE SPECTATORS SEE WHAT I AM SAYING AND THEY ENJOY THE LITTLE GIGGLE, LAUGH MAYBE.

PAUL IS TURNING IT.

THERE GOES THE A'S 7:30 BELL ENDING THE FIRST CHAPTER.

POLO CAME TO NEWPORT IN 1876.

SO, IT IS ALMOST THREE YEARS TO ITS HUNDRED 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

SO I THINK MY GOAL IS TO STAY ALIVE THAT LONG BEFORE MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL TAKE ME OUT.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE RUDE TO VLADIMIR PUTIN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANY ASSASSINS COMING.

SO AS LONG AS KNOW WHAT HE TAKES ME UP BEFORE THEN I'M GOING TO GO ON FOR ANOTHER FEW YEARS.

WHILE I CAN STILL SEE I WILL CARRY ON.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DO YOU WANT TO GET SWEATED ON BY A SMELLY POLO PLAYER, NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MANY OF YOU LINE UP FOR THIS TORTURE, BUT HERE COMES DAN KEATING TO SHOW HIS APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY.

PAMELA: LITTLE-KNOWN FACT, THE FIRST-EVER POLO GAME IN AMERICA WAS PLAYED RIGHT HERE IN NEWPORT.

FINALLY TONIGHT, BACK FOR A FULL SEASON SINCE THE START OF COVID.

IT'S BEEN CALLED THE CROWN JEWEL OF PROVIDENCE PAIRED WE VISITED WITH THE MAN WHO STARTED THE FIRE.

>> IT COMES TOGETHER WITH A WONDERFUL SORT OF GRACE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.

PAMELA: WATERFIRE HAS BLAZED A TRAIL THROUGH THE HEART OF PROVIDENCE FOR THREE DECADES.

BRANDED THE SOUL OF THE CITY, IT IS THE URBAN SCULPTURE INSTALLATION BY BARNABY EVANS, WHO SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD IN CALIFORNIA, WITH A FAMILY THAT LOVED THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

>> I'VE GOT TWO YOUNGER SISTERS AND MY MOM AND DAD, WE ALL ENJOYED HIKING AND GOING THROUGH THE DESERT.

PAMELA: I HAVE HEARD YOU ALMOST WAXED POETIC ABOUT CAMPING WITH YOUR FAMILY.

AND CAMPFIRES.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THAT THAT ENCHANTED YOU?

>> WE WOULD CAMP IN THE HIGH DESERT AND THERE IS NO FIREWOOD, SO YOU SPEND ALL DAY LOOKING FOR LITTLE PIECES.

AND WE WOULD MAKE A SMALL CAMPFIRE.

AND ITEM NUMBERS SITTING -- AND WHEN YOU ARE IN THE DESERT, YOU SEE IT NO LIGHTS ON THE HORIZON LINE.

AND WE SLOWLY RAN OUT OF WOOD AND THE FIRE WOULD GET DARKER AND DARKER.

AND THEN, YOU WOULD SUDDENLY BECOME AWARE OF THIS HOPEFUL'S OF THE STARS OVERHEAD.

WE WOULD TALK AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN DEEP CONVERSATIONS.

IT REALLY MOVED ME.

PAMELA: IT WAS THOSE DEEP CONVERSATIONS WITH FAMILY, GATHERED AROUND THE CAMPFIRE, THAT EVANS SAID WOULD LATER SPARK THE THOUGHT OF WATERFIRE.

>> THE FLICKERING LIGHT AND THE CHANGING LIGHT AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE IN THAT LIGHT, IT GIVES YOU I THINK THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE MORE.

PAMELA: EXPLORING WITH HIS FATHER FIRED A PASSION FOR BOTH SCIENCE AND ART.

EVANS DAD WAS A BIOPHYSICIST AND AN AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER, WHO ONCE WORKED WITH A FAMED ARTIST OF THE OUTDOORS.

>> HE ACTUALLY WAS A MULE DRIVER FOR ANSELL ADAMS, WHO USED TO HAVE MULES THAT CARRIED HIS EQUIPMENT UP INTO YOU 70.

SO THAT ONE SUMMER, HE HAD A CHANCE TO BE HELPING TUPAC ANSELL ADAMS.

PAMELA: ANSELL ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY INFLUENCED EVANS TO TAKE UP THE CAMERA.

HE STUDIED ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AT BROWN UNIVERSITY.

EVANS ARRIVED TO A VERY DIFFERENT PROVIDENCE AS A STUDENT IN 1971.

>> YOU COULD PLAY GOLF IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE, BECAUSE NOBODY WAS THERE.

RESTAURANTS WERE NOT OPEN.

IT WAS A PRETTY TOUGH TOWN.

PAMELA: BENEATH THE TOUGH BUT NEAR THOUGH, EVANS DISCOVERED A RICH ARTS COMMUNITY, HISTORY, AND DIVERSITY.

AFTER GRADUATION HE STARTED WORKING IN ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION, URBAN PHOTOGRAPHY, AND SCULPTURE.

EVENTUALLY, THE PROVIDENCE RENAISSANCE BEGAN.

THREE RIVERS DOWNTOWN WERE UNCOVERED AND MOVED.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT WHEN YOU WERE WALKING ALONG THE WATER AND THE RIVERS IN PROVIDENCE, HOW DID THIS ALL COME TOGETHER?

>> YOU HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW COULD YOU PRIME THE PUMP?

WHAT WAS GOING TO GET SOMEONE TO GO LOOK AT A RIVER AT NIGHT IN A CITY THAT PEOPLE CONSIDER DANGEROUS AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO.

WELL, WE'VE SPENT BOLDLY AND I THINK SMARTLY A LOT OF MONEY TO UNCOVER THE RIVER, BUT WE DID NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO ANIMATE.

HOW DO YOU MAKE IT ALIVE?

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO COME HERE?

SO THAT WAS MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT TO MYSELF IS WELL, WE'VE GOT THIS PARK, NOBODY IS HERE, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH ART, WITH MUSIC, WITH SPECTACLE, WITH ENGAGEMENT, TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT COMING DOWNTOWN?

PAMELA: DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE'S FIRST NIGHT CELEBRATION IN A NEW YEAR'S EVE 1994 MARKED THE WATER BOUND BONFIRES DEBUT.

IT WAS MEANT TO BE A ONE-TIME EXPERIENCE, BUT ITS POPULARITY SPREAD.

TODAY, 42 BRAZIERS STRING THROUGH DOWNTOWN.

EVANS SAYS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS WATERFIRE'S LEGACY.

>> SO ONE OF THE INTENTIONS OF WATERFIRE IS TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE THE SAME CONVERSATIONS I REMEMBERED HAPPENING AT THE CAMPFIRE WITH MY SMALL FAMILY CAN HAPPEN WITH LOTS OF FAMILIES OR -- OLIVER PROVIDENCE AND EVEN BEYOND THAT, THERE IS AN EFFECT THAT SOCIOLOGISTS CALL TRIANGULATION, WHERE YOU CAN GET STRANGERS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

PAMELA: SO THIS IS AN EXHIBITION AT NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART, BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> IT IS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

PAMELA: EVANS IS TRYING TO STEER THE CONVERSATION TO CONSERVATION, WITH THIS RECENT EXHIBITION AT THE WATERFIRE ARTS CENTER.

>> ONE OF THE INTENTIONS OF THIS EXHIBITION IS ALL OF OUR COASTAL CITIES HAVE A CHALLENGE AHEAD OF US.

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THE HARD CHOICES OF HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD.

IT IS NOT UNDERSTATING IT.

TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DEAL WITH SEA LEVEL RISE.

ARTISTS AND SCIENTISTS BOTH USE VISION.

PAMELA: DESPITE HIS PROMINENCE AS A PROCESS FOR ECOLOGY AND ART, HE PROFESSES TO BE A BEHIND THE SCENES PERSON.

>> I AM A BIT OF AN INTROVERT.

I AM VERY SHY AND I DO NOT LIKE DOING INTERVIEWS OR BEING OUT IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

PAMELA: SHY GUY, GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE TO COME TO THE PARTY.

>> EXACTLY.

YEP.

IT IS A FUNNY SITUATION.

I WANT PROVIDENCE TO CONTINUE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CITY.

I HAVE GROWN IT DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH THE CITY.

PAMELA: AND YOU CAN GET THE FULL SUMMER SCHEDULE OF WATERFIRE AT GO PROVIDENCE.COM.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

DAVID: I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE AND SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY.

OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪