Kotb - Hoda: how I survived war zones, bad hair, cancer, and Kathie Lee

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To Jim Lorenzini

For your endless inspiration

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.

This book is dedicated to anyone, like me,

whos made God bust a gut.

Recently, I was walking through one of New York Citys terrific neighborhood street fairs teeming with colorful booths. Banners promised Millions of Socks! and vendors proudly displayed tie-dyed scarves and chocolate-covered marshmallows on skewers. The crowd had a Sunday pace and I happily relaxed into the mix of sun-soakers and serious shoppers. As I wandered, some who watch a bit of television offered their kind hellos as they passed by. A friendly guy selling piano lessons wanted to chat. He asked one of the two questions I most often hear.

One is, Where are you from?

He asked the other: How did you get to where you are today?

Its always that second question that makes me want to pull out a vinyl pocket photo file. It would flip-flop-flip all the way down to the ground, filled with pictures of the extraordinary people who guided me, who took a chance on me, who supported me. They are the answer. They are how I got to where I am today.

Think of all the people whod fill your pocket photo file. Or even the pages of your book. I never really considered writing a book, and wonderedwhen someone suggested the ideawhether I could. I cant remember a damn thing! Big problem. A good friend of mine, aware of my recall issues, mailed me a package of dried blueberries when she heard about my book project. The enclosed card (Im told) read, Good for your memory. Start eating these by the bushel! Well, the package never arrived. Classic. The berries got lost, just like my memories.

Turns out, though, several hundred pages later, I did have a book in me. I do remember things once I dig around in the fuzzy matter a bit. (I wisely issued shovels to my siblings, too.) So, whats my book about? Its about where Im from. My family. The hunt for my first television job. And the double whammy that took my breast and broke my heart at the same time. Its about stories Ive covered around the globe. Hurricanes Katrina and Kathie Lee. What Ive learned so far in my life. Its about how the dirt that gets kicked in our faces sometimes transforms into magic dust. Most important, though, these pages are a way to give credit and thanks to the people who boldly stepped up when no one else would, and who quietly sat down next to me without being asked. My book is about all that and a random guy on a plane who told me, Dont hog your journey.

Okay, I wont. Heres my journey. Im so glad youre here. Pass the blueberries.

Dad: Born and raised in Cairo, my dad came to America with my mom for a better life and to have a family. He raised me and my siblings as American kids, but we traveled to Egypt each summer to visit relatives and run our hands over the exotic pyramids. My dad valued learning and excellence, and his approval still drives me today. He died suddenly when I was in collegethe most significant loss in my life.

Mom: Behind every strong woman is a stronger woman. Thats my mom. Who I am and who I want to be is based on what I see in my mother. Shes gutsy, game for everything, and is my inspiration to live life with a positive outlook. And she agreed to share her family recipe for baklava with you. Love her.

Hala: To know her is to do what she says. Halas usually right and shes my big sister. Funny, smart, and loyal, Hala is the girl I want by my side and on my side. She was my rock when my world was rocked in 2007. I could not have made it through two of the biggest challenges of my life without my sister.

Adel: My brother is a husband and father now, but to me hell always be the little kid Hala and I ordered around. The poor guy has been dominated by estrogen for decades, and now he has a wife and daughter along with the three Kotb women hes managed his entire life. Adel is perfect in the rolecalm, patient, and hilarious. He is so many things I am notand so much of what I look for in a good man.

Hannah: Shes damn near perfect. What can I say? Hannah is Adels daughter, my niece, and when Aunt Hodie comes out of her sweet mouth, I melt. Shes the familys first and only of the next generation and she makes our world more fun. When I see Hannahs dark brown curls bobbing my way, I want kids even more.

Karen: Karen is my dearest friend and we talk on the phone every day, several times a day. The 200 miles between us may as well be zero. She lives in Boston, where she works as a morning TV anchor, but we met in New Orleans at WWL-TV. Both of our hearts broke covering Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I share with Karen a mutual love for that city and all the things that matter in my life.

Ex-Husband: I was divorced in 2008 after a two-year marriage. I wont dwell on this in the book. Too many other people deserve the ink.

Stan Sandroni: Who gave you your first real job? Stan gave me mine after Id been rejected more than two dozen times. In 1987, I was driving around the Southeast in my moms car, video rsum tape in my hand. Stan saw something in me that was invisible to twenty-seven other news directors who ejected my tape and said Good luck. Stan hired me at WXVT-TV in Greenville, Mississippi, and gave me the start I needed in an industry that I love to this day.

Man on the plane: In 2007, I met a man somewhere over Ireland. I know his name, but when I tell his story, I call him the man on the plane because our meeting was so random and brief. Opposite of that was his memorable messageso specific and enlightening. Hes an angel in my life whom I met soaring through the heavens, and who I initially thought was just a stranger sitting to my left.

Dr. Freya Schnabel: When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, I sought out the best surgeon in New York to tackle my cancer. She turned out to be Dr. Freya Schnabel. I love her solid reputation, calm demeanor, and sense of humor. I am forever grateful to her. When Freya found out I was writing a book, she made me promise to make her sound blond and willowy. So, when you read about Dr. Schnabel, picture her as blond, willowy, and the best at what she does. I swear, its all true.

Amy Rosenblum: Not everyone says things to your face that you may not want to hear, thank God. But in the case of Amy Rosenblum, you probably need to listen. Shes a master at seeing peoples strengths and weaknesses and that makes her a game changer. When she worked as a producer for the Today show, Amy helped me not only stay in the game, but advance a few spaces on the board. All the way to the fourth hour of Today .

Kathie Lee: Her name alone elicits a responsea smile or a groan. Theres not much middle ground when it comes to peoples reaction to Kathie Lee, but the middle is not where she hangs out. Shes at home on one side or the other, with solid opinions about everything and a willingness to share them. If shes your good friend, shell share everything else with you, too. Ive come to know Kathie Lee as generous, loyal, and skilled in the art of good TV. In my wildest dreams I never thought Id be sharing my mornings and several cocktails with KLG.