Doctor-Manhattan-Style Radio Listening

Sticky note Baby Dr. Manhattan sketch. © O. Douglas Jennings

I'm listening to the radio that sits on top of the refrigerator in my mom and dads kitchen, antenna at a slant with a small flag of aluminum foil on the end. They have it on every morning as we all get ready for work or school. WJPF is their station of choice. I recall that when I was younger they played pop tunes but then the station programming went to country music. That suits my dad just fine as he's always been most fond of music by Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and "Miss Dolly". They also have a popular show, "The Trading Post" in which local callers tell about stuff they would like to get rid of, sell or trade (Vacuum cleaners, bookshelves, blenders, etc.). It was strange for me to hear my mom call in there once. That's when I first noticed she had a Southern accent.

I'm listening to WTAO from Carbondale on the radio in my brother's room that is next to mine. It caters to the college crowd at SIU. Besides Classic Rock (Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Moody Blues) and Psychedelic music, it also has some experimental programming and off-beat comedy of the National Lampoon variety. I didn't have a radio of my own a the time but it wouldn't matter. My siblings would each play their own music loud enough that I could be entertained by it even if my door was closed.

I'm listening to Sheena Easton singing "My Baby Takes the Morning Train". Or is it "She's Got Betty Davis Eyes" sung by Kim Carnes...or it might be "Kiss on My List" by Hall and Oats...any of them all of them and more in the 80s. I'm living at home, driving my car, boarding at a friend's house or studying late at school. Blondie, The Clash, The Police, Devo --I heard a lot of them on the radio then. It was the music of the 80s that I first identified as my own. I could remember the names of the groups and sing along to the songs.

I'm listening to WMBI from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I'm working late on the Christian outreach newpaper where I serve as a graphic artist. Pastor Donald Cole is taking listener calls. I marvel when he talks a guy out of committing suicide while on the air.

I'm listening to WBEZ the public radio station in Chicago. I've been married for a couple of years now. My wife has made a wonderful dinner and as per our agreement, if she cooks, I clean. So, the radio sits on the shelf above the sink and I'm enjoying an episode of "This American Life" and becoming aware of the various writers and stories of people from amazingly diverse backgrounds. David Sadaris is a writer frequently featured on the show. Listening to him is the first time I had listened to someone read a memoir. I was hooked from then on.

Getting ready for the day, I tell Alexa to play Q-101 on the radio to listen to some music.

 After a while: “Alexa, stop the radio.” 

“Alexa, play News Radio 780.”

I decided to catch the weather and news.