Rewound Weekend

A reminder to all my fellow radiophiles, pop culture fans and top 40 radio aficionados: This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, so on Monday it's time for an annual tradition I look forward to every year (except for one year, where I completely spazzed and forgot about it). I skip the picnics and stay close by my computer for WABC Rewound, where now talk station WABC in New York goes into its archives for 12 hours and plays some of the airchecks of its popular djs of the 60s and 70s. It's a virtual time machine where you can relive the glory days of one of top 40 radio's greatest stations and your younger years (for you under 40 folks, a fascinating look at how much fun radio was decades ago). The other half of the fun is joining in and reading the posts from other listeners on the WABC Rewound message board. It all wraps up with a call in talk segment featuring past WABC personalities.

One addition this year is an hour of airchecks from one of WABC's current lineup, Don Imus, who ruled the airwaves as a dj at WNBC in New York in the early-mid 70s'. I listened to him while I was in high school and college, so I am looking forward to his segment...should bring back some fun memories for me.

Here's where to join in the fun:
WABC Musicradio 77 tribute site
WABC Rewound info and link to listen live
WABC Rewound Message Board

Timing Is Everything, Part 2

Update on last week's news: I've been called back to my job. I return to work on Tuesday so I can keep some commitments I made for Monday.

Thanks for your prayers and well wishes. God has been good. I guess He either thought I needed a vacation or it's not the right time for me to buy a place right now. Those plans are on hold for now until I get a clear sign to go ahead.

A Sad Week In Nashville

It's been a week of loss and sadness here in Nashville. As death so often comes in threes, in the music world we lost Eddy Arnold, Jerry Wallace ("Primrose Lane"), and today, Dottie Rambo. I've been spending much time listening to tributes and reading reflections on Eddy and Dottie and watching some vintage video. Please pray for the families and friends who have been affected by their losses...some of whom I know.

The weather here has for the most part been gray and dreary for much of the week...it sort of created a setting to spend a little time in a mourning period for the job loss as well.

I will be glad to put this week behind me. But I approach a new week knowing the sun will shine again and God's still God.

Timing Is Everything...

This afternoon I was preparing to meet my realtor and put an offer on a townhome I liked. The mood at work had been somber. A handful of temp staff at the job where I've been on a long term assignment since last July were let go, victims of a slower workload and the economy. Our manager discussed the situation today and when he asked for questions, I said "I'm planning on putting an offer on a townhouse today. Should I do it?"

The answer came toward the end of the day. No. There was another cut to be made. I was not surprised. Frankly, I haven't had much to do for the past couple of weeks. Three crushed co-workers walked me out to my car and I did my best to keep their spirits up. I was calm and accepting. This was, after all, a temporary assignment and it had to end eventually...but, we all had bonded as if we'd been working together for years. Yet, if I had learned anything at my weekend at the Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat, it was that we find treasures in our present darkness. God doesn't waste our pain or misfortune--He uses it. (I also realized at the retreat there are people who survived much worse than the end of a beloved job.)
The love and support I got from the people where I worked as I left is the legacy I leave behind in that position. I couldn't ask for much more than that.

I will be relieved, though, to have a respite from the gas-guzzling long (well, to me) commute, having to get out the door at 6 am in order to make a left turn out of my complex and spend an hour at the gym to avoid the horrid traffic. Plus, God knew and I knew that if I were going to make a move happen if I bought a place now, I would really have to scramble to prepare for it. Now I don't have to.

I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me next. I hope to take a little break first. I've got some books to read and this place needs a good cleaning.

Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat

This past weekend was the aforementioned Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat, led by gospel singer Ann Downing who I first came to hear of on the Gaither videos. I've been one of her "FANNtastics" for years now. She sought me out to come to this event but I originally said no due to finances. It was desirable to stay at the host hotel, but with trying to prepare to buy a home, that wasn't an expense I could justify. Well, Ann so graciously provided scholarship funds so I could be there.

I roomed with an extraordinary woman, Kay, who is 83 but looked and had the outlook of someone at least 20 years younger. I learned much from her about living life fully in later years, and most certainly in the present. She reminded me a lot of my grandmother, one of my role models. If she were still with us, she'd probably be much like Kay.

I said in my last entry that perhaps the reason it was important for me to be there was because God must have a message for me. Well, he did. But I'm not going to share it here...it will be part of an "Encouraging Words" entry or podcast, or maybe both. I met a lot of amazing women, including some who have endured unimaginable hard times, with only the strength of their faith in God to see them through. Amazingly, some of them have found humor in their situations.

It was fun to also meet some of the people from Ann's message board. I must say, I also heard the most Southern accents at that one event than I have anywhere else in Nashville over my first year of living here.

One of my favorite events of the weekend was the musical celebration. We of course had music from Ann. Other musical guests were Southern gospel writer Marty Funderburk and John Starnes, another singer known to Gaither video fans. This guy has a future in comedy--he gave Mark Lowry a run for his money in the humor area as he did a hilarious routine about exploring who he was.

Though it was a women's retreat, I must admit to flirting with a guy for parts of the weekend. His name was Ezra, and he was the ventriloquist puppet half of the duo Gail 'n Ezra. Gail has a magnificent talent of bringing this little fellow to life-- he was so real to all of us. I called him a "hottie" and he loved it.



I am very grateful to Ann, Kay, Sue and all who made this weekend possible for me. It was exactly what I needed.