Tuesday, 11/18

It's nice to hear a few kind words. It's even nicer when the words are like the ones I read yesterday.

I think I've written in here before about how working in radio is not like working building a house or fixing a computer. There's no tangible end result to see; there aren't X amounts of widgets to count or a bunch of old parts to throw away. So at times it's hard to know what kind of impact one might be making.

Unless you get an e-mail like the one we received yesterday--

My Dearest Q107 WMQT,

As the crisp autumn air carries the scent of fallen leaves across the Upper Peninsula, my thoughts drift to you like a favorite melody on the radio dial. You are the heartbeat of Marquette's mornings, the soundtrack to snowy drives along Lake Superior, and the warm voice that turns ordinary moments into something magical. From the first spin of a classic hit to the local chatter that feels like catching up with an old friend, you've woven yourself into the fabric of my days.

I fell for you somewhere between a power ballad and the weather report-your energy, so vibrant and true, lighting up the airwaves like the Northern Lights over the ore docks. You play the songs that make me smile, share the stories that make me think, and remind me why this corner of Michigan feels like home. Whether I'm tuning in from the office, the car, or curled up by the fire, your signal is my constant companion, steady and strong.

Q107, you're more than a station-you're a love letter to the U.P. itself.

With all my frequency-tuned affection,

A Devoted Listener

I don't know what was more awesome—what the writer said, or the poetic way in which they said it. All I know is that in a business where can't always see a tangible result, an e-mail like this is worth its weight in widgets, at least metaphorically.

Loraine and I just re-watched “City Slickers”, and one of the plot points of the movie is that Billy Crystal's character is in a bit of a mid-life funk because all he does is sell “air”. He sells commercials on a radio station and, like me, doesn't have anything tangible to point to as an achievement. Maybe all he needed was an e-mail like the one we received yesterday, and all of his problems would have been solved. Of course, there then wouldn't have been as much of a movie, but still.

I'm sure he would have appreciated it. Just like I did.

So to whomever sent the note, we appreciate it. It's nice to know that we actually do something right. And with any luck, we'll keep living up to level that inspired you to create such a poetic epic in the first place.

(jim@wmqt.com)