Sometimes when you can’t get your thoughts together and you’re
walking a hazy emotional path it can do you a world of good to reach out
to a close friend. On this blog I share with you a transcript of a
letter that I recently sent to my dear friend, Cher. Who better to be
my guiding light in times of transition? She’s transitioned more than
anyone else I know. If she can make it from bell-bottoms, to disco, to
the modern day club scene, I can make it from KNOM volunteer hopeful to
KNOM volunteer alum without too much strife.
…Right?
——————-
Dear Cher,
Before I get started, let’s get real for a second. By the time you
receive this letter I will be just one month away from completing my
time as a KNOM Volunteer. One year in Nome! A year of DJing, music
selection, Iditadogs, unfamiliar weather patterns, new friends, and so
much more! It seems like it was just yesterday that I was writing you
about my time spent learning how to input new music into the system and
accurately “time-down” and hour of programming. My how far I have come!
Before I get too self-absorbed in my ramblings, how are you doing?! I
saw you on the finale of The Voice the other week. You were really
fantastic. I am so glad that you are back with new music. What’s it
been? Twelve years? Craziness. I must say that adding your new single
into KNOM’s current musical rotation was more than awesome. If I had a
highlight reel of my Music Director experiences, me ripping a brand new
Cher song into the catalog would be prominently featured. Maybe even
with some slow motion action as I popped the cd into it’s tray as the
footage immediately star-swipes into a close-up of a smile forming on my
lips. I can almost see it!
It always thrills me when music veterans such as yourself not only
come out with new music, but do so while maintaining such music that
sounds so contemporary and relevant to today’s popular music scene.
Just a few weeks ago I was adding new tunes from Petula Clark. You may
remember her from the 1964 hit song, Downtown. Well she is
back on the scene with a lead single that weaves her crystal clear voice
with electronica elements and even a touch of auto-tune! I can only
hope that I am so vibrant and hip when I am eighty-one years old.
Oh, and guess who dropped his twenty-first studio album? None other
than the legendary Eric Clapton. Reggae, rock, folk – his new music has
it all. He and Petula aren’t the only ones rocking it after retirement
age either. Yoko Ono had a #1 Billboard Dance hit just a couple of
months ago that I really enjoyed playing on my show at KNOM. I feel so
lucky to be able to play such a wide variety of great music!
I must admit that sometimes I get a little sad when thoughts of me no
longer being in the DJ booth cross my mind. Sure, I can always carve a
path for myself dealing professionally in airwaves and mp3s, but no one
does it quite like KNOM. Where else can you hear Prince back-to-back
with the Savoonga Drum and Dance? Loretta Lynn handing it over to New
Order? Madonna making way for an up-and-coming indie folk act?
Sorry, I know I shouldn’t mention Madonna. I know that makes you
angry. My bad. I do wish you two would try harder to get along. But I
digress.
I don’t really know what to do with myself as the weeks count down. I
find myself going about my day to day life as if I’ll never leave
Nome. I know that sooner or later I will have to pull the band-aid off
in one quick yank. Until then I know I still have plenty of great music
to seek out for Western Alaska. Until then, please take care of
yourself and take the time to write me back. I worry about you
traveling around so much. Be sure to drink plenty of water and rest
when you can. And don’t you worry about me. I’ll be just fine.
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