Kendal

Wife and mommy. Loves books, music, movies and the Oklahoma Sooners. Air Quality Director at ODEQ

[Kendal @kstegmann]

@TRowOU listening from Florence, Italy!

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

Thanks for spending this month with us learning about air quality. Take a deep breath, be air aware this summer, and keep an eye on your AQI!

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

Looking for daily air quality information delivered to your inbox? EPA’s AirNow EnviroFlash program provides daily forecasts for air quality: https://t.co/OjJEyqEMhq

[Kendal @kstegmann]

@smerconish Tom Brady who spoke at Georgetown is more conservative and identifies as an independent. That’s an example of a top school not having a liberal commencement address.

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

Level up your air quality awareness game! Get the AirNow mobile app and sign up for DEQ’s health advisory notifications (at https://t.co/NJWJE7U6PN) for the ultimate combo. 👾🎮

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

Happy #AirQualityAwarenessWeek! Fire can help your allergies. Prescribed burning is the strategic application of fire by an experienced fire crew to a predetermined area for land management. By burning invasive cedars, we can minimize pollen spread and help preserve grasslands!

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

#OzoneSeason is here once again! In #Oklahoma, #Ozone season lasts from March 1 to October 31. To find out how you can lessen your impact this season, check out these infographics! #AirQuality #KeepAnEyeOnYourAQI

[The REF @KREFsports]

6-0 in SEC Play.

[Oklahoma Softball @OU_Softball]

all biz 💼

Audrey’s line: 4 IP, 6H, ER, 0BB, 4Ks

[Kendal @kstegmann]

@boxer_heaven Blanche Louise

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

Four Old Men. Two Wheelchairs. One Beach. Alan Alda’s 90th Birthday

January 28, 2026.

Alan Alda turned 90.

His family planned a safe celebration at home.

Cake. Balloons. Grandkids.

Alan said no.

“I don’t want a party,” he said.

His daughter frowned.

“Dad… you’re turning ninety. This is a big deal.”

“I know,” Alan said.

“But I don’t want to celebrate here.”

“Then where?”

Alan didn’t hesitate.

“I want to go to the beach.”

The room went still.

“The beach?”

“Dad, you’re in a wheelchair.”

“You can barely stand.”

Alan smiled.

That smile.

The Hawkeye Pierce smile — the one that always meant something stubborn was coming.

“So?”

By that afternoon, he had already decided who was coming.

“The four of us,” he said.

“The last four.”

Gary Burghoff.

Jamie Farr.

Mike Farrell.

And himself.

The final survivors of the 4077th.

“No cameras. No interviews. No speeches,” Alan said.

“Just us.”

The phone calls began.

Gary answered first.

“Happy birthday, old man! Ninety!”

“Thanks. I need you to drive.”

“Drive where?”

“To the beach.”

A pause.

“Alan… you’re in a wheelchair.”

“So are facts. They don’t stop me either.”

Gary laughed.

That Radar laugh Alan had known for over fifty years.

“Fine. But I’m not pushing you through sand.”

“I’ll crawl if I have to.”

“You’re insane.”

“I’m Hawkeye. Same thing.”

Jamie Farr was next.

“The beach?” Jamie said.

“I’m ninety-one and in a wheelchair.”

“Then we’ll have two wheelchairs at the beach.”

“Like a parade?”

“Like a victory lap.”

Jamie laughed until his voice cracked.

“You haven’t changed since 1972.”

“And you’re still Klinger.”

“Fine. I’m in.”

Mike Farrell sighed the moment he answered.

“Let me guess,” he said.

“You want me to push your wheelchair.”

“Yes.”

“I’m eighty-six. I use a cane.”

“BJ Hunnicutt once saved a man with dental floss,” Alan said.

“You’ll manage.”

Long pause.

“…Fine.”

January 28. 6:00 a.m.

Gary arrived in a rented van.

Two wheelchair spaces.

He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

At Alan’s house, his daughter hovered.

“Dad, are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

“What if something happens?”

“Something is always about to happen at ninety,” Alan said.

“Might as well happen at the beach.”

Jamie was waiting outside his house.

Wheelchair. Sunglasses.

Hawaiian shirt.

“You coordinated outfits?” Gary asked.

“It’s tradition,” Jamie said.

“The 4077th always matched.”

Mike showed up next.

Also in a Hawaiian shirt.

Four old men.

One van.

Heading west.

On the drive, memories filled the air.

Harry driving too fast.

Larry bringing his own wine.

Radar making everyone cry.

Klinger never sleeping.

When the MASH* theme song came on, no one spoke.

After it ended, Alan said quietly,

“That song used to annoy me.”

“Now?”

“Now it just reminds me how lucky we were.”

At Malibu, reality hit.

Wheelchairs don’t work on sand.

Jamie grumbled.

Mike rubbed his back.

Alan stared at the ocean.

Gary disappeared.

Fifteen minutes later, he returned with two lifeguards and two beach wheelchairs.

One lifeguard whispered,

“My grandmother watched MASH* every night.”

It took time.

Transfers were slow.

Hands trembled.

Bones protested.

But they made it.

To the water.

Alan closed his eyes.

The sound of waves.

Salt in the air.

Sun on his face.

“I forgot what this felt like,” he said.

They talked about the ones who weren’t there.

McLean.

Wayne.

Larry.

Harry.

Bill.

David.

Loretta.

Jamie finally broke the silence.

“Let’s race.”

Two wheelchairs.

Two pushers.

One rock.

They raced.

They tied.

People on the beach stared.

A teenager asked, “What are those old guys doing?”

His mother said, “Living.”

As the sun set, Alan spoke.

“This might be the last time.”

No one argued.

“That’s why it matters,” he said.

“Because we know.”

He made a wish.

“One more year.”

“One more adventure.”

“Korea. Together.”

They promised.

[Kendal @kstegmann]

My daughter had her senior pictures taken at her favorite bookstore @fullcircleokc with her favorite book. The DaVinci Code by @AuthorDanBrown

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

Attention #Oklahoma teachers! DEQ is accepting applications for the 2026 #EnvironmentalEducation Grant Program. The deadline is Monday, December 15, 2025. Additional information and an online application can be found at: https://t.co/Ltsz364l7I #Environment #OklaEd

[Kendal @kstegmann]

@KREFsports OL is a huge liability

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

It's another #AwesomeAirAlert! With awesome #AirQuality throughout #Oklahoma, we encourage you to get outside and enjoy yourself. #Environment #KeepAnEyeOnYourAQI

[Oklahoma DEQ @OklahomaDEQ]

Woohoo, it's a Triple A Day! Awesome Air Alert, that is! Get outside and enjoy the wonderful weather. #Oklahoma #AirQuality #environment #KeepAnEyeOnYourAQI

[Kendal @kstegmann]

@GovStitt @OklaDOC That facility was named after my mother, Serelda Cody.

[Kendal @kstegmann]

@KREFsports B-

[George Stoia III @GeorgeStoia]

So much content over at @SoonerScoop right now. Camp season is in full swing.

You can sign up for $1 and know everything you need to regarding OU football.

https://t.co/ibAhf45RMM

[Bob Przybylo @BPrzybylo]

Harroz said the most recent? Was just two months ago (wouldn’t name the university).

Wasn’t gonna be a search, was just gonna be Joe C’s job.

Nope. OU is home.