One of my prize possessions in the 70’s was a turquoise AM radio, which reminded me of a plastic transistorized square five inch sandwich.  There was nothing better than having music in the palm of my hand anywhere I went – except somewhere in Kemmerer, Wyoming on fishing trips, where there was minimal coverage and a running serial about “The Tooth Fairy.”   The impact of those happy waves into my teenage and then adult years truly left behind more than an Arbitron.

Reel-to-Reel tapes, 8-tracks, and cassettes, littered the personal duffle bag of my landscape, reassuring me I was never alone.  Brother Louie and Brandy, who was after all  a fine girl, were the family and friends who took me to Funky Town and gave me an Operator after the Airplane turned into a Starship.  Amazing though how something completely invisible, is not just a powerful part of our lives, but also a financial industry that would leave a void none of us would recover from if it disappeared – and that includes those of us who only live Day by Day in faith, praying there will be Joy to the World (and not just from a bullfrog who also incidentally “was” a good friend of mine.)  How odd we all can relate in a single understanding to this invisible force of sound, but at the same time consistently fail to reach out physically face-to-face, in our need for one another.

I thought maybe it was  basic choice, as some of us can’t accept some of the Footloose and vast selections offered at the bandwidth buffet.  So I looked at the ten “stations” which Pandora created for me in no necessary order, by my song taste on my trusty Blackberry. Ironically though, that should not to be confused with the search for mankind and compassion, which made millions because we desired a blue awakening on Pandora.

Precious and Few

Whitesnake

Rock Me Tonight

Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis

Get the Party Started

What the World Needs Now

Enya

Starship

Slayer

99 Miles from LA

I looked at that list and saw myself.  I saw my youth and romantic dreams, my survival and drive, as a single working woman, and mother.  There was the love and connections to an era I still live in,  albeit  vicariously through my elderly parents, and the hope and devotion which comes with my faith, keeping me grounded and appreciative of each day.  I don’t need a bucket list to help me accomplish a goal; I have a broadcasting list, which commemorates where I have been and how I came through even if some days it seems more Tutti than Frutti.   I did get  Satisfaction, and it was not invisible.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all sampled from the beats on the buffet, taking not just the comfortable flavors we already know will satisfy us?  How wonderful the communion of understanding can be, when we see the world through another’s ears, notes not needed.  Maybe that is why Christmas resonates in us all, not because it registers with cash, but in the simple chimes in Carol of the Bells or even as diametrically opposed as that reindeer laying out poor grandma.  No words needed, we look at one another and the moment, memory and intent, all resonate in perfect harmony – same can be said for an ice-cream truck but that is a different tune all together!

Before I leave this life, I can say I listened to radio, recorded radio, rocked out to radio, worked in radio and eventually wrote two novels tied to radio.  I guess instead of a triple AA rating, I have more of a CC music factory rating – and regardless of the letters, I already know the notes, and the harmony is in my humanity, no matter how I listen to it.

The words of mankind say music soothes the savage beast, but I would be happy if it would just smooth the way for more direct understanding and compassion.  We’re all in this life together,  and it would be nice to live it with one another  even if it is with head phones,  as long as our heads aren’t in the sand.