Every now and then I look back at where I've been and how I got there. Growing up in a small prairie town, there wasn't a lot of entertainment, so early on in my life the radio became a best friend. There was always something to listen to during the day, and at night, there was a whole world of stuff out there from all over Canada and the States. By the time I was 12 or 13 I knew I wanted to be one of those guys on the radio spinning the hits. Like many people I worked with through the years, I too had my own little studio setup in a loft out in on of the barns (We didn't have a basement).
When I was almost 16, my dream came true. A family friend ran a business and he had some close ties to the local mom and pop radio station. One day he took me into the station with him and did the introductions and told the owners about my ambitions. They happened to be looking for a kid to do whatever around the station, and I saved them the trouble of having to advertise the opening. Withing a month or two of starting my part-time job in radio, I was called upon to come in and operate the block of religious shows on Sunday mornings. Within a few months of this promotion, I was given the all night show on Friday and Saturday nights.
I moved onwards and upwards from those humble beginnings. When I was in my early thirties, and a growing family, I decided it was time to make some money, so I got into sales. I stuck with radio sales and made a comfortable living for close to twenty years. Once I hit fifty, it was time to work for myself, which I still do today and love it.
A lot of great memories from the radio days, but I'm glad that it's nothing more than memories. I couldn't imagine working in it and enjoying it in today's environment.