With Thanksgiving drawing near, I want to thank every employer who gave me the opportunity to be on the radio, especially those who allowed me to choose the music I played. Getting to play great music for an appreciative audience is one of the most enjoyable jobs I could have. It was always exciting to walk into a radio studio, knowing that I got to fill the next two to six hours with music I thought the audience should hear. It was also a pleasure to hear from listeners who called in and said, "Wow! That's a great song. You know, a song that would go great with it is..." I would then run to the music library to see if we had the listener's suggested track. If we did, I'd cue it up quickly and play it on the air.
Over the years, another thought has occurred to me. While it's always flattering to have your abilities rewarded, I've reminded myself, "I was lucky to work for those radio stations. I had the ability to do the job, but so did a lot of other people. It didn't have to be me who got the gig." I'm glad it was, though, and I'm thankful for those opportunities.
