This has been an unusual week for me.
Most of the radio work I do falls under the category of what the BBC calls “light entertainment”. (That’s British Broadcasting Corporation, not Box Butte County.) I host a morning show where I do cheesy impersonations, make semi-humorous remarks and give airtime to a fictional basement-dweller. I write and produce “funny commercials” (we hope they’re funny anyway).
But this week I found myself tackling some pretty substantial projects.
On Tuesday we had our Eagle Radio “Giving Day” and I spent two hours on the air live talking about the United Way and encouraging our listeners to give. I found myself saying things about the good feeling you get when you help people, and parroting back facts about the United Way I have retained from years of interviews.
Over the last couple of days I have been working on another non-silly project: a pre-recorded graduation ceremony of the airwaves for Hemingford High School that will air this Sunday at 1:00pm on 105.9 Double Q Country. It’s in preparing this project that I’ve re-discovered how resilient young people can be.
We had recorded remarks from Hemingford’s Valedictorian and co-Saluditorian, and they both made heartfelt, thoughtful points about the regret and sadness that comes with missing half of your senior year of high school. But honestly, to my ear, the prominent notes were pride, optimism, defiance, and excitement.
Think about that. No prom, no real ceremony, no parties, no yearbook, no final bittersweet moments in the hallway. It just ENDED in March.
Now I’m going to attack myself first, because it will become apparent that I want to smack some other people around a bit. I’ve been a big baby about this thing. I’m bored. I’m cranky. I get really depressed. And I am one of the rare few who get to go to work every day. And I have a fun job! So what the hell is wrong with me? Well, that’s a topic for a hardbound book, not a blog. But suffice to say I’m a big dumb dummy where this thing is concerned and I’m trying to be better about it.
Now!
I am proud that the company I work for is extending the stay-at-home policy for most employees through the end of this month. I am relieved that we will have another month to try to get this thing under control before we feel obligated to gather as a whole team in the building (or, even more concerning for their health and ours, re-open our doors for recording sessions and other visitors).
I am disappointed that Bands on the Bricks is being cancelled. I feel sorry for the kids that the pool isn’t opening. But these dullards on social media saying effectively, “If you don’t put everything back the way it was I’m gonna go spend my money somewhere else!” This is childish, repugnant behavior. And even if you’re only saying it on social media to try to make a point or scare people: you still suck. Cut it right the hell out.
If you really feel the need to say on social media any of the following:
“This whole virus thing is a scam!”
“First they say this, then they say that!”
“Are we supposed to just stay inside for the rest of our lives?”
“We need to get out and spread this thing around!”
Well, first of all, pick up the nearest blunt object and strike yourself in the head with it. It can only help your outlook. Secondly, keep your idiocy to yourself–or send private messages to friends that you’re sure will put up with your numb-headed buffoonery.
I know of what I speak in this last category, because I have been sending messages to my friends for the last month. They generally fall into one of the following categories:
“I’m depressed.”
“I’m irritable.”
“I think I need to start drinking.”
My friends are nice, understanding people and they put up with this incessant whining from me. But I do the same for them. And nobody else has to read it. God Bless America!