Listen to the audio version of this post here.
Our Present Creates our Future
They say you can’t go home again. They’re probably right. But …
There I was, back in a radio studio for the first time in years and after a few minutes, it sure felt like home. Coming out of a break, telling a quick story, cuing the producer for some sound. Just like the old days.
Big reunion this past weekend—people who worked at WLS Radio in its Top 40 era, 1960 to the late ‘80s. A broadcast featuring four one-time DJs and me sharing memories and an occasional insight. And a big party downtown.
More than a hundred Musicradio alumni gathered and grinned and glanced at name tags to figure out who the heck they were talking to.
Yes, we all look a little different after 30, 40, even 50 years. (You will, too. Might as well prepare for that now.)
Everyone was friendly and flattering. It was fun!
And … I have one of those occasional insights to share.
We all talked about what we’ve been up to since those days at the Rock of Chicago. The professional paths we’ve taken, and the personal peaks and valleys.
We posed for pictures. Lots of pictures. We stood and smiled brightly with the people we’ve stayed in touch with, and the ones we haven’t seen (or maybe even thought about) in decades.
My former colleagues couldn’t have been nicer to me.
They were generous in their recollections of my contributions back in the ‘80s. Fulsome in their praise of how I look all these many years later. And several expressed condolences, aware that I lost my sweet husband a while back.
The conversations buoyed me. And, here’s the thing …
I know some of those people didn’t think nearly so highly of me way back when. And I can’t say I blame them.
WLS wasn’t really part of my career plan the way it was for so many. (There’s a quirky get-a-job story there, and I’ll share it sometime.)
When I landed this fabulous morning drive radio job, almost by accident, I was young, maybe too young. Sensitive, some might say overly sensitive. Okay, some did say overly sensitive. And I was generally not very happy with myself, my looks, and the state of my life.
Also, I went to work at 4:00 in the morning. In fairness, that could make anybody a little cranky.
Still, looking back, I can clearly see how my feelings about me and my life colored my interactions with the people at work. Not for the better.
Sometimes I wish I could go back and do it all over again.
This is worth thinking about if you’re still doing it versus doing it over.
Thirty, forty, fifty years from now, how do you want your present-day colleagues to respond to you?
You’re laying the groundwork for that now with every conversation, every shared project, every deadline met—or not.
All of your interactions with all of those people leave traces behind. Some of the reactions they have to you will fade with time, and many will fade even faster. Others will make much deeper impressions that linger, maybe even for years.
Everybody I’ve talked with about the reunion had this experience. Somebody told them in detail about that (conversation-incident-horseplay) that happened back in (fill-in-the-year) in the (studio-office-newsroom).
And hearing this fascinating account, they realized that they remembered absolutely nothing about it. It was as if the storyteller was carrying on about some stranger!
We just never know what we say or do that makes an impression. Or how memorable that impression will be.
Makes you think, doesn’t it? I hope you’ll share your thoughts in the comments below.
I still believe this, dear one. Thank you for sharing it, as I learned in my Radio career it’s not really how you begin, but it is how you finish. You are loved.
Thanks, Nancy. We finished well, didn’t we?
Great post, Catherine! So true how even a smile or simple words of encouragement from a parent or peer still resonate for me from years gone by. And now, my grown children tell me about important personal moments “Dad, when you said …” many of which I don’t recall being significant at the time. Happy anniversary to you and your WLS Radio colleagues!
Is it funny, Fred, how stories stick with someone else, and leave little impression on us? That’s one reason reunion conversations were so much fun.
So many people at WLS helped launch my radio career from an intern to where I am today. 4 hours was not long enough to share my gratitude to everyone Saturday. WLS was an amazing radio station and family. I would find it hard for any of my other companies that I worked at through the years to have an event with so many people coming from all over the country to celebrate 40 plus years later. It was a very special event. Thanks to all who put this reunion together ❤️‼️
It really was a wonderful gathering, Jack. I love being in touch with you here or on social media. But seeing you in person was even better! (And that’s a darn good picture of us!)
Thank you so much for the powerful audio.
This should be taught in every class at schools today.
I only realized today by the picture you posted of the broadcast at Walt Disney World in 1986, that you, Jim Johnson and Fred Winston were also broadcasting there. We rode on the same chartered airplane out of Chicago.
And here we are 39 years later chatting and posing for pictures at the WLS Musicradio reunion.
If you had told me then that we would meet in downtown Chicago decades later, I just would not have been able to believe you. But that isolated comment certainly would have been impactful.
Thank you for a great two days.
That is hard to believe, Tim. Thirty-nine years! Yikes.
I still look back at those days with a lot of affection.
Great insights made Catherine. Every moment of every day we are creating what builds up to be our legacy. My time at WLS was the start of my 20 years in Chicago radio and what a launching that was with Larry, you, Jeff , Les and the rest of the station staff.
Over the past few days I’ve still been buzzing about the reunion and one thought remains. It’s a line from “Citizen Kane’ when a reporter is allowed to read passages from the diaries of Kane’s guardian Walter Thatcher in search of the meaning of “Rosebud.” She tells the reporter, “You have enjoyed a very rare privilege.” Those of us who worked for WLS can say that very same thing!
“Our legacy” — yikes! That sounds kind of highfalutin’, Mick. And at the same time, I know you’re right. We do leave a legacy. And the older I get the more aware I am of mine-in-the-making.
So good to see you at the reunion. I’m looking forward to your book.
Such great insights Catherine. It is always fun to hear the retelling of stories and one might either be proud of behaviors or hopefully laugh if situations could have been handled better. I always enjoy listening to you.
Yes, there was a lot of laughing when all of us WLS alumni got together, Karen. I’m so glad you listen to my recordings of blog posts–I’m not sure many people do, but I sure enjoy doing the recording and talking to you.
Sounds like such an awesome time. I love the photo and might recognize a face or two but what I really need is a VOICE! I would probably recognize the voice.
You might very well, Janice. Voices are quite distinctive!
Great thoughts here Catherine. No matter what business we are in, we affect others in ways we sometimes never realize. I love your insightful comments.
Thanks, Nancy! Yes, it’s easy to lose track of the impact I might make. It would be a good idea to keep those effects more front of mind.
I have always subscribed to the “pay it forward” mantra, long before it had a name. The career I have today is largely thanks to the many people I have met on my journey – many, many, indirectly at our WLS Reunion, but certainly a handful of those that were there were directly responsible (and an even smaller few had no idea of their impact until I informed them). Even the smallest gesture that I was given as a young kid from my radio heroes and their staff meant everything to me. And I never forgot them.
I realized early on that our business is quite small and intimate. Everyone knows everyone else in some way. And those who don’t “know someone who knows someone.” Make a positive impact and you will shine. Be a negative and that will certainly catch up to you. Maybe not right away and maybe you won’t even realize it…but it will. The phrase “don’t get mad, get even” come to mind.
When talking with young people that are actually interested in radio these days, or eager young talent in the business, I am reminded of that kid who stood in front of the studio window on the 5th floor of the Stone Container Building, every summer. Watching, observing, taking mental notes. Rather than discourage, I give them as much (or little) assistance, advice, insight that they desire. And I have felt that pride and joy of seeing someone who you helped shape, excel at what they do!
As mom always said “good manners cost you nothing.” Thank you to all of you who have felt the same towards me.
Catherine, what a wonderful time I had with you and all my other heroes! I was that kid again over the weekend.
Catherine, your vivid descriptions make me feel as though I was there, walking those years with you. Nostalgic. Your writing is a story we all step into every day: the convergence of past, present and future. Moments that seem long and years that rush by. I love reading your writing.
You’re the best, Michele. Thank you! And yes, the past, present, and future converge–sometimes with more force than we would have predicted. Or wanted!