Amy Watson's last week on NewsChannel 5

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — I live by a certain mantra: Smile at least once every hour you're awake.

You don't necessarily have to laugh, but find something that makes you happy at least once an hour. It can be super fast and super small.

One of the things that always puts a smile on my face is our team here at NewsChannel 5.

We love our relationship with you and know that when you tune in to NewsChannel 5 This Morning, you choose to start your day with us. For the past 18 years, you've started your day with Amy Watson. She is no stranger to being out and about in our community.

Late last week, as I was thinking about what to highlight for this week's Take Time to Smile, I thought, “Why not highlight the person who has made so many of us smile over the last nearly 20 years?”

So here we are. Amy's last week. It's the last of their 76-mile one-way trip at 2 a.m. from Hopkinsville, Kentucky to Nashville.

“I was just trying to get here before 3 a.m.,” Amy said. “That’s impossible.” I’m just not coming here sooner!”

She added the last part with a half laugh.

I met Amy in the train station parking lot just after 3:00 on Tuesday morning. Her last Tuesday as co-anchor at NewsChannel 5. It was the first time in years that I was awake before 3 a.m. Boy, oh boy, am I glad I did that?

“It's a good morning, sunshine! “That’s what I try to think about at 3 a.m.,” Amy said.

That was a funny story. When I arrived in Nashville shortly after last Thanksgiving, the first thing I noticed about Amy was how authentic she was. What you see on TV in her caring, gentle and compassionate demeanor couldn't be more real.

She walks into a quiet newsroom and immediately visits the newscast's producers. Most arrived at work several hours early.

The first thing she says?

“Good morning, news angel!”

Amy's nearly 20-year career comes to an end this week, but not without a thank you for all these years – from the people we care about.

She returns to her desk to make flower arrangements and notes. The first: She opens the card and her eyes light up.

“Oh, Chris Cannon,” she said. “Chris Cannon used to work here, he was a reporter!”

She also has an arrangement by our own Heather Mathis.

Amy realized she had about 40 minutes left until the 4:00 a.m. period began. She reads through the scripts to prepare for the newscast.

“This time in the morning gives me a chance to go in and maybe just change something or maybe change a transition or something,” she said. “You don’t want to stumble across live television, even if it happens, a lot, and you just keep going.”

Now it's about 3:40 in the morning. She goes upstairs to do some final things before the red transmitter lights come on.

“Ben and I push it a little in the morning,” Amy laughed.

Amy continues to apply the last few touches of makeup and curl her hair. In the control room, director Kevin Sherrill makes sure everything is in order. A few minutes pass and I hear Kevin:

“In a minute and a half, good morning, Amy,” he says.

Amy replies, “Good morning, Kevin!” The tone was that of someone whose day had been made so much brighter by hearing that voice in her ear.

How did the rest go? I hopped from the control room to the studio. If you watched the 4 o'clock hour on Tuesday, I was there to take a look behind the scenes.

One thing I said to Amy – I honestly can't even remember what I said. Then there was this moment between Amy and I, along with co-host Ben Hill.

“I’m sorry,” Amy said, yawning.

Everyone laughed. It's funnier if you watch it in the player above.

“That’s the reality,” Ben said.

“I consume so much (coffee),” Amy said.
“That’s the key to change, you have to drink caffeine every hour,” Ben said.
“You do,” Amy added. “You really should.”

After the show in the newsroom, Amy has more work to do. She has to go over scripts for the 9 o'clock newscast and even write a story.

But this conversation happens:

BEN: “Why is your computer so weird?”
AMY: “I don’t know.”
BEN: “It’s always weird.”
AMY: “It’s weird.”

For the next few minutes, Amy looks down and sees all the cards and notes she has collected from viewers over the years. They are in a bag as she prepares to take them home after tidying up her desk. If you've ever wondered if Amy still has a note you wrote to her, chances are she does. There was one from 2011 in there!

These moments were precious. Check out the video in the player above.

Do you have a story for Take Time to Smile? You can email me at [email protected].

Road trip to see some of our neighbors' best Halloween decorations

We are just a few days away from Halloween. This year, Americans are expected to spend around $12 billion on candy, costumes and decorations. In recent years it seems like more and more people are decorating their homes. Forrest Sanders had the opportunity to visit several communities in the midstate to view some of these Halloween decorations.

-Lelan Statom