Seems Like Old Times


I ran in to a colleague today from my radio years, years that came to an abrupt halt in the first week of October in 2001.  

It was the end of an insane 30 days beginning, of course, on September 11th.  One of the most terrifying days of my life.

A week later my fourth child, my baby boy was born.  Easily one of the most awe inspiring days of my life.

A week after that I got the only reprimand I have ever received in my life.  My boss and her henchwoman got together and decided I wasn't doing my job.  After 12 years in radio, 10 years longer than either of them, they thought they'd write down what they didn't like about me and present in a letter for me to sign.  It was one of the most humiliating days of my life.

A week later I quit radio forever, without a new job, with four children, with really no money, but with a woman who loved and trusted me completely and would do anything for my happiness.  It was one of the bravest days of my life.

The gentleman who I saw today worked in radio the same time I did, in fact we worked together for a bit.  He's a kind, honorable guy who actually ended up owning a station in the end.  He's a man of many talents, a good father and grandfather.  He's a self-made man who was even voted businessman of the year recently in our little city.

I say all this about him because when I saw him today, maybe because it was this man in particular, I missed the radio business so much I could hardly stand to sit another moment in my big giant office.  I wanted to follow him out, a small pup, jump in his passenger seat, stick my head out the window and let him drive me back to where I belong.

But I didn't.  Of course.  I stayed in my seat like the good little soldier that I now am.  No more terror, awe, humiliation or bravery, apparently.  No, I don't believe that.  I'm sure there's a whole bushel of humiliation in my future.  (kidding)

Radio isn't what it was.  It wasn't what it was even when I was there in the late 80's and 90's.  The old radio dudes would lament even then about how radio was Radio in the 60's and 70's.  It's all perspective I suppose.

But it happened in a time in my life that I LOVED.  And so I associate.

It's good to be reminded of those days.  It gives one hope.

Cheers,

Casey

Comments

  1. Anonymous25/5/10 22:49

    Touching. So very touching. Life throws us curve balls when we least expect them. The test is in how far we are willing to bend. I'm glad you drew the line in the sand. You didn't deserve to be expected to bend any further.

    ReplyDelete
  2. bignoseduglyguy25/5/10 23:46

    Casey

    As a Limey living Down Over (NZ) where the radio output is hit and miss, I get a great deal of enjoyment from listening to podcasts of NPR shows.

    Chicago Public Radio's This American Life, WNYC's RadioLab and North Carolina Public Radio's The Story are all great examples of what radio can uniquely deliver in a world where we have more varieties of media than ever before.

    While it might seem like the halcyon days are over, maybe they're just different for each generation?

    Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CiCi26/5/10 08:59

    It is good to reminisce and appreciate the good old days huh.
    As you say, the radio work is not the same and would not be a place to make a good living now but you remember it like it was and you obviously loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Suzy26/5/10 13:44

    A great post. Your radio is my standup.

    The good ole days may never exist for future generations.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Casey Freeland26/5/10 18:06

    Thanks Anon... Sis maybe? If not, you talk like her anyway.

    Hey Buzz. That is definitely true. While I almost never listen to radio anymore, I love my podcasts.

    I did love it TB. When you start something at a very young age, planning for it or not, it often becomes a part of who you are.

    Suzy, you are so right. I guess we are the fortunate ones go have a stand up in our lives.

    Thanks for reading!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown30/5/10 04:25

    Your boss and her henchwoman? :) This reminded me of a tragedy in my life years before I got to be a teacher.

    Wait for it :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Casey Freeland30/5/10 10:52

    Looking forward to reading that story, Shadow.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Joanna Jenkins2/6/10 22:01

    Hey Casey, You have such a great way with words and you're so honest which makes it feel like you're sitting here talking to us.

    I don't know how I missed this post when it first came out but I'm glad I found it.

    Cheers,
    jj

    ReplyDelete
  9. Casey Freeland2/6/10 22:08

    You are very kind Joanna. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown10/6/10 20:57

    I am so glad you ran into this man. I am so glad you were strong enough to leave when you were presented with such a terrible situation. Look at how you have not only survived but thrived.

    It is so good for us to look back on times in our lives with happiness. Like college. Isn't that something magical to remember? I loved those years. Of course these year we are creating right now will be magical memories one day as well, right? : )

    Appreciating where we are and the journey we are on makes our lives so much better. So great.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Casey Freeland13/6/10 21:40

    Thank you so much for all your kind comments. Especially this one. Slowing down that clock and appreciating the moment is the key to everything, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ann Imig14/6/10 08:07

    I agree with Suzy and Johanna. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Casey Freeland14/6/10 08:21

    Thanks Ann. :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

This is where you come in...

Popular posts from this blog

Hotel

Image
I feel like every time I come over to Crescent City I write the same blog post. You know, appreciate my family, wish I was home, like driving by myself, love my wife, want to hug my kids, blah blah blah. So let's try something different. When you are away from home and by yourself: What's on the radio on the road? I've gone through stages for sure. NPR, scanning for local stations, my own iPod music etc. But for the last couple of years it's been audiobooks and nothing else. I belong to audible.com now and get a new book every month for $15. I have a bumper sticker that says, "Shhhh, I'm listening to a book." What kind of crap do you eat? Do you go to a restaurant? My love has no trouble at all spending the evening by herself at a busy restaurant. I'm not made that way. I usually buy some frozen garbage I can nuke in the hotel microwave that will make my tummy ache for the rest of the night. What kind of TV do you watch? Channel 45 for me here, whi...
Read more

Her Cottage

Image
She lives in a one room, cozy cottage she built in the middle of a lush green forest. Her home sits in a grassy clearing, backed up to the base of a fern-covered cliff where in the Spring, sweet clean water trickles down to her waiting barrels. Tiny, baby blue flowers grow amongst the ferns on tender, too-thin stems of pale green. She is young, and happy, and full of hope. One day a pebble dislodges from the very top of the cliff. It’s not much larger than her smallest finger. It tumbles as it falls, briefly touching its brothers along the way. Seeing the pebble’s joy, the brothers break free and join his race down the steep slope. Others join, larger friends, who bring larger friends. And soon they are singing a thunderous roar of glee as they race each other ever faster down. She hears the song and runs out of her cabin, looking up to see them ripping through the ferns, plucking the flowers and consuming all in their bliss. She backs away, then trips. As she hits the gr...
Read more

What Nurtures You?

Image
One of the coolest chicks in the blogosphere suggested that we all come up with twenty things that nurture us. Everyone who has taken this challenge seriously has approached it in a slightly different way, which is one of the things that makes blog communities so cool… the differences within the similarities. For me, I must define. Nurture - to care for and encourage the growth or development of Since really only humans can care for and nurture other humans, what we’re really looking for here are twenty things that inspire us to nurture ourselves. Here we go: 1 – The scents of my woman Which makes me think of the feel of her skin, which makes me think of other nurturing things I will not bring up… 2 – “Hey Dad,” as I walk in the front door at night If those two words don’t ease my soul, nothing will. 3 – Golf The last seven years of my life would not be the same without those long walks and the man-bonding previously missing in nearly my entire adult life. 4 – The smell and fee...
Read more