Tis the season
November 27, 2007

I am always erratic in my appearances here, but I figured I had better send a musing before the convergence of my Christmas mania and Patrick’s wedding render me witless. 

It has been a cyclone since I last posted.  When I was saying farewell to summer, it was with the knowledge that changes would be coming to WCKG, and to the lives of many people I hold dear.  The timetable and extent were not firm, but the end of an era that rescued Steve from sports talk and provided my boys with tuition was a sad prospect.  But more pointedly, Stan, Terry and Bonnie would be upended, and they are part of an extended family.  I had hoped that there would be time to reduce the awkwardness of the Steve-Garry-Janet-Cindy situation, leading to some kind of closed circle.  I worry about a Bob and Ron without a place to channel their bent and mystical musical reverie. I miss Drew and his manic energy, and I wonder how news radio will suppress him.  Of course, the hardest part of the unraveling was watching Matt grow radio legs, improving and happily showing up at any lube garage to promote the station, only to be silenced.  Knowing a bit about imminent change, and not being able to share it, is a terrible burden for a mom.  I found myself avoiding him, so I would not have to lie or crush him.  At the same time, I nudged him to look in 360 degrees, and to consider other options.  If radio is to prosper, it will require connections with humanity-direct and honest.  It’s nice when people use their real names, instead of the ridiculous one name handle-Trex- or the first-middle name concoction, a la Bill Stevens.  The people at WCKG were trying hard to be the people who live inside your dashboard, and that is a noble goal.  It did not make enough money to support itself.  Steve reminds me “it’s show business” with emphasis on business.  For both of us, of course, it is more.  It was for all who toiled in the tenth floor at the Prudential Building.  

That being said, CBS radio has been the longest radio relationship of Steve’s life.  They have been supportive, never micro managing. They have been the turf upon which Steve morphed from a rollicking rebellious adolescent (at 40) to the disciplined man he is today.  There may be a bit less mirth, but there is much more meaning. The boys have benefited from observing his work ethic.  I appreciate the CBS constancy, and I am glad that the Jack partnership was carved.  I do not think that a Steve Show at home would be enough him.  Three years of a furloughed Steve could allow travel and writing possibilities, but radio is Steve’s passion, his life’s blood.  He has always directed his best and brightest energy toward work.  I used to resent it, but now I appreciate it as his lifeline.  (which is not to say that his introverted demeanor at home doesn’t frustrate me)

I am amazed at how readily Steve reoriented his day.  He got a new alarm clock, procured diet Red Bull, rescheduled his workouts, and trundled off like a soldier.  He has not complained about fatigue.  He sounds perky at 5:30- now that is a miracle!  Matt is young, and talented, and I am both hoping and praying that someone will welcome a young new voice.  There needs to be a farm team for local radio, and Matt has the goods.  In the mean time, his rescue dog, Walter is getting a lot of love, and that is a good situation for both of them. When Matt finds work, we will be hosting Walter less frequently at the homestead.  That will be a VERY good thing, since Mabel the Unstable is not a fan of Wally-boy.   

Thanksgiving took us to Smith and Wollensky, where we shared our holiday with friends.  Food was amazing, the city was dressed up for the holidays, and I had no cooking or cleaning duties.  We had much to be grateful for, despite Matt’s liberation and the writers’ strike keeping Pat unemployed on the precipice of his wedding.  We have each other, and we have been blessed.  You who have listened and followed Steve as he hop- scotches across Chicago are part of the blessings.  Thank You.

I will try to share wedding mania in the next week or so-