A Few 'Great Debates' For You!

I have been rather heavy and philosophical as of late. LOL, I am sure my next blog will be. But, I thought I would lighten things up just a little bit. I joked a couple of weeks ago that my posts here were becoming too life and death-related, and I was going to write about people I wanted to go out with. Well, I don’t know if the Internet has that much room – but it did get me thinking about celebrity crushes, and some of those great debates that people have gotten into from time to time. Television has been the medium where most of us developed our first crush. I am no different. To this day, I still can’t make up my mind if it was Linda Gray from ‘Dallas’ or Valerie Bertinelli from ‘One Day At A Time.’ (Incidentally, I watched an old episode of ‘Family Feud’ on YouTube the other night that featured the cast of both shows in an all-star celebrity square-off. All I will say is I would have loved to have been Richard Dawson!)

But, it occurred to me that there have been some great debates about beauty and attraction over the years.....Take, for instance.....

Ginger vs. Mary Ann / Maybe the ultimate debate among television viewers concerns itself with the classic 1960s series ‘Gilligan’s Island,’ in which Bob Denver was stranded with both Tina Louise and Dawn Wells on a desert island. Well, there were four others...but seriously! People were either charmed by the small-town innocence of Wells’ Mary Ann Summers or the movie star sizzle of Louis. e’s Ginger Grant. It has been the debate for the ages! But, most people I have talked to seem to lean toward Mary Ann, proving good always wins. While both were stunning, there was a sweetness about Mary Ann that Dawn Wells brought out beautifully. But, there were other debates...

The “Supernatural” Women / In 1964, ABC delivered one of its’ first major sitcom hits with “Bewitched.” The show starred Elizabeth Montgomery as newlywed Samantha Stephens, who was also....a witch. It’s interesting to note that most people’s thoughts of witches seemed to deal with The Wizard Of Oz before the show debuted. With a twitch of that nose, Montgomery charmed the world. The next year, NBC premiered “I Dream Of Jeannie,” which was the story of Larry Hagman’s Tony Nelson – who struck gold when he found a beautiful genie on the beach. A witch with a twinkle of her nose or a genie...without a navel? Ah, the debate has endured for five decades. This one is tough, as Barbara Eden was, and is , one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the TV screen. But, there was something about that witches’ dress. All I am saying.....

Those are two of the biggest debates, but there are others. In 1978, viewers got a taste of what happens in the world of radio with the debut of ‘WKRP In Cincinnati’ The show was more true than most might think. If you have ever worked in radio, you probably worked around a Les Nessman, Johnny Fever, Venus Flytrap, or a Mr. Carlson. And, you just might have worked around a Jennifer, played by the voluptuous Loni Anderson. But, as much of a sex symbol as she became, there was something about Jan Smithers, wasn’t there? Her character of Bailey wasn’t as in-your-face gorgeous as Anderson, but I know of many radio guys who admitted to a crush on Smithers over Anderson.

And, there were others.....Which ‘Hee Haw’ Honey was your favorite? (Gunilla), Favorite ‘Friend’ (I run the gamut here, sometimes Jennifer Aniston, sometimes Lisa Kudrow, but always Courtney Cox)....or which ‘Waltons’ sister did you like? (Torn between Erin and Mary Ellen, but have to go with Erin)..........

And, for fans of the male gender.....there are some interesting debates to be had.......Bo or Luke? Magnum, PI or Michael Knight of ‘Knight Rider?’ or going back to the 70s, were you a David Cassidy, aka ‘Keith Partridge’ fan, or did your heart skip a beat for the oldest of the boys named ‘Brady,’ Greg?

The cool thing is there are no right or wrong answers. And, at the end of the day, it’s a lot more entertaining of a debate than a political one, don’t you think? If nothing else, hopefully, I’ve made you smile a little bit this week....and brought back a cool memory of a poster you might have had on your wall!

A Facebook Explanation

Wow. What a week. It’s all good, but it’s a lot. That’s the story of the past few weeks. I feel compelled to explain a recent Facebook post where I asked for prayers. I will be the first to admit that I do this a lot. I tend to hit the panic button when things get a little uncertain, and I also tend to wear my heart on my sleeve – perhaps a little too much from time to time. But, that being said...that’s who I am – for better or worse. If things are bad, or I get upset...you’re going to know about it. I apologize if I talk too much...but again, that's just me.

That being said, I had a lot of people ask me about this particular post. It was actually the far extreme. Over the past few months, my career has really kind of kicked into a higher gear. That’s a good thing, for a lot of reasons. After driving my Jeep almost to the end of the line, I took the plunge and got a Nissan Versa Note. The difference in mileage is astounding, and it’s good to be able to drive something that has no memories of a past life. I thank God that I was able to do that. But, there is the paying for it. Sometimes, you have take a leap of faith. So, there. I did. Folly or Wise? Time will tell.

Have you ever felt like you were standing in the middle of a freeway – hoping you didn’t get your butt ran over? LOL...That’s kind of how I am feeling now. There has been so many work opportunities that I have been presented with as of late, and I have tried taking advantage of each of them. Some are part of my job, some aren’t. But, it’s not the time to say no. I have never been the best at taking imitative. Call it a mixture of shyness or just plain scaredy-cat, I never really had the confidence in myself until the past couple of years. I always looked at others as being smarter, more talented, cuter, etc, and never took advantage of some opportunities that I might have had in the past. Might my life have been different had I done that? Maybe, in some ways, but I am convinced that I am where God wants me to be right now.

Since January, I have been working as hard as I have ever done. (Once upon a time, I said this and someone replied ‘You’re not working any harder than anyone else.’ Maybe not, but let me repeat....I am working as hard as I have ever done before. There are days and nights that I feel I am going to go to sleep with my fingers on the keyboard, where I wonder if I can do it all – but I’m getting there. I’m eating, putting gas in the car, feeding the pets I have, and taking care of what I need to....and I’ve had a lot of help. Not naming names, but there are three houses that I am very blessed and fortunate to be able to stay at if I need to in Nashville if the schedule gets crazy. They know who they are, and believe me...I do.

So, when I ask for prayers about all this, just know I am a little scared of messing it all up. But, it’s without a doubt the most exciting time of my career. I want to be the absolute best at what I do – writing, interviewing, etc. With a little help from above, I’ve got this.

There are still others who are smarter or more talented than I am. But, I am trying not to sell myself as short as I once did. That’s a process I am trying to learn. As far as those who are cuter? Well, one thing at a time. I still hope that person is out there, because I never intended to be in my 40s still looking, but telling myself I am worth that is still a little tough. However, I am trying.

So, just know that I am blessed, fortunate, busy, and a little scared....but I wouldn’t have it any other way.... I don’t guess it would mean anything if I wasn’t right?

Mattie

Feeling kind of melancholy tonight. I just got off the phone with my father, and Mattie Bandy – my second cousin – passed away tonight.

Death has affected me on a lot of different levels over the past few years – and months. I have written about the passing of my pet dog Brownie, as well as Warren Medley just a few weeks ago. But, this one hits just as hard.

Mattie was the first cousin of my mother. Some of my favorite memories as a child were of trips to Mattie’s house in Centerville. It seemed that unless we went to see my father’s side of the family in Illinois, we went to Mattie’s for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I rememeber the smell of a turkey dinner combined with the heat of her old electric heater while laying on the couch watching the Cowboys on turkey day. Sweet person as she was, Mattie had a (semi) smart-aleck sense of humor. But, she was a Clymer, after all....and If anything else, my mother said what she thought, so they did fit together. (I just realized that I am doubly cursed on the smart-aleck side of things. I have Clymer and Dauphin blood flowing through my veins. Wow....)

Mattie had two husbands and two children pass away before she did. I wasn’t alive when her first husband passed away in the mid 60s. But, she married after him to a fine man named RG. They had a daughter named Connie, in 1966. Again, I was yet to have been born at this time, but I have seen pictures of her. Just a beautiful little girl. Blonde hair and Blue eyes. I wasn’t there, but I bet she was spoiled by her parents – as well as just about everyone she came into contact with. I know my parents were crazy about her, as she charmed my father as well. Before she was three, she passed away in January of 1969.

I’ve written a lot about some of the struggles I have had in my life – particularly the past few years. But, how one survives burying your own child – who never had the chance to grow up, I don’t know if there is any greater pain than that. But, she persevered. She and her husband became parents once again, to Caren. She was a great mother, and I’m sure she was grateful for that second chance at that. Caren graduated from high school in 1987, and RG passed away from cancer a couple of years later. Then, in 1995, Caren died. I remember Mattie’s grief at the funeral home just like it was yesterday.

I always considered Mattie almost like an angel. I would go down to Centerville and visit her every now and then from that point on. Then, in 2005, Mama died. I remember those visits picking up with greater frequency. If anyone knew how it felt to lose someone you love, it was Mattie. I wanted to learn from her how you got past those feelings. One day that winter, I was at her house, and we were talking about death when I got the answer. You don’t. Though it had been close to forty years since little Connie had died, her tears flowed and her voice broke just like it was only yesterday. You adjust. To some extent, you maybe even heal. But, you never forget.

Whenever people want to attack Christianity, it amazes me that some think that Christians live in somewhat of a bubble and just accept anything that happens in their life in the name of faith. Trust me when I tell you that being a Christian is not easy. Faith is something that is learned, and doesn’t happen overnight. But, the life of Mattie Bandy was one that taught me a great deal about patience. I don’t know that I have applied it as well as I need to, but her life was a lesson in it everyday. Though it’s a sad night in the ‘Ville, somewhere there’s a pretty big reunion going on tonight – and two women might be talking about a shopping trip up yonder. Also, there are probably a few dogs that will be happy to see an old friend! And, that is not a bad thing at all!

A Reflective Week...

The past has been on my mind quite a bit over the past couple of days. With the passing of Warren Medley, I have talked to quite a few of my former co-workers at WDKN Radio. Many great memories were brought up over the past few days – some I had forgotten about, and some I never will. To be honest, it’s the most that I have gone down memory lane concerning that time period of my life in a long time. I guess you could say I have tried to distance myself from that era. The closing of the station in 2009 knocked me for a loop in a lot of ways, but I have written – and talked about that extensively over the years. Common knowledge, you might say. But, over the past couple of years, I have become friends with many of the staff there, including Freeman, Kenneth, and have known people like Dale Turner and Richie G for a few years. They are doing a good job for the community. Life goes on, and I know I wouldn’t be who I am today for those letters not being a part of my life.

I had forgotten how much fun that job was to me. I had no idea that when I walked into Jackie Rhodes’ office for the first time in 1991, that I would be blessed to have the career that I have enjoyed so much. Whether it be the morning show, ball games, Old Timers’ Day broadcasts, or Swap and Shop, it was some of the best times of my career – and life. I learned everything on the fly – which is pretty rare. Hank Walker trained me on the board, Gordon Rhodes taught me not to sweat the small stuff – and it’s all small stuff in radio, and Ken Loggains showed me how to “Act like I’ve been there before,” but most of my radio career was an on-the-job education.

In reminiscing about the past over the last few days, it’s occurred to me how many of my best friendships or relationships I have made because of working at WDKN, and later WNKX and WQSE. I was joking with Kristy Owings the other night that some of the stuff that went on behind the scenes needs to be in a book. And, some doesn’t. If you’ve ever worked radio, you know that you find humor in some very strange things. Hey, when you read funeral notices four times during the first two hours of every day you need any lift you can get! But, I am so mindful of people that made an impact on my life.....names like Joe Webster, Dot & Dusty Rhodes, Earl McCollom, Bill McCullough – whom we lost recently, Kip Reynolds, and others like them. I will leave some out, so I am not going to list everybody I think of. And, the listeners, names like Sidney Pullum, George Hall, Polly Brown, and for years, my Thanksgiving Day didn’t start right unless I had breakfast at the home of Mary Baker in Vanleer.

I am humbled at what God has allowed me to do in my career. To be honest, music is about the only thing I think I could do. Fix a car? I can screw up putting air in a tire. Woodworking? If you ever run into George Dufty, my Shop teacher – ask him about my expertise with a saw. Get ready, because he’s going to laugh! I am very blessed to be able to do a little radio still, and a lot of writing. I don’t take it lightly. I’ve found over the past couple of years, that I have become very competitive about it. I don’t like it when another writer beats me on a story. I want to be in the mix on every media day I can. Last summer, when I was in the hospital, I turned in about ten stories that week. I am still trying to earn that Billboard byline – but you won’t find anyone else with a stronger fire than mine.

I do wonder if that focus has cost me a little. I had dinner with one of my longtime co-workers and his family the other night following visitation for Mr. Medley. He and his wife were talking about knowing all the lines of a Disney movie that their children have watched over a hundred times. At that moment, I started to have a different definition of what success meant than I had before. I have been blessed to have been a father for the past seven years. Again, I learned on the fly, and there are a lot of regrets I have about how some of that has turned out. But, I haven’t done too bad. There are some decisions I wish I had back, but you live and you learn. In that moment, the interviews and the pictures I post on Facebook didn’t seem to matter too much. Success was a lot different than I thought.

But, on the way home, I did something rare- I cut myself some slack. I realized that success is a relative term – to each person. I have been blessed with so many great relationships – including a soon-to-be 16 year old that calls me “Dad” that doesn’t have to, families – blood, surrogate, and church, than I could ever imagine, and a career that I absolutely love and cherish. No, it hasn’t turned out like I thought so far, but that’s not to say it won’t. Maybe that special someone is right around the corner. I hope so. I want to write many more stories in my life, but I hope there’s a little bit more to my story than that. Maybe it will work out a little differently next time! But, in spite of those feelings of doubt and fear, I look back on my life so far – and see a person who is most richly blessed, and that qualifies as a success, I think. If you’ve been a listener, a reader, or have listened to me through some of those worries and fears, I thank you for being a part of my story. Here’s to the best being yet to come!