I grew up listening to WABE.
I had a brother who was 4 years older than me, so my childhood was always an arms race of privileges. As soon as Robert would get one, I would want it. When I was 3, Robert started listening to the radio at night. I was immediately jealous. They wouldn’t let me listen to any of the pop stations (because I wouldn’t fall asleep). Instead, they put 90.1 on my dial and said that classical music was good for sleeping. Out of rebellion, I would stay up late listening to symphonies and chamber music and operas. It’s no coincidence that I would later become a huge classical music fan.
In 6th grade, I was back in public school and I had discovered the joys of the band program. As a budding french horn player, there was nothing better for inspiring me to practice than to listen to From the Top. I’m still a little sad that I never got to be on that show, but it was definitely a huge influence in my life.
In high school, podcasts had just become a thing, but I didn’t have an ipod. Instead, I’d burn NPR podcasts onto a cd, and listen to them on the bus to and from school. I’d also put a cassette tape into my boom box on friday nights to record the radio as I was heading out the door for marching band, because I simply couldn’t stand missing my favorite programs: From the Top, A Night on the Town, and Weekend Radio (where did that one go, by the way? It was the best thing I’d ever heard. I think I’m the only 23 year old who knows who Bob and Ray and Peter Sellers and Victor Borge are, and it’s thanks to that program). I’d get really mad when football games would go into overtime, because I knew the cassette only lasted till about halfway through Weekend Radio, so I’d miss the end if I wasn’t home on time.
As I’ve traveled into my adult life, I’m fairly certain that my car’s radio has never left 90.1. I listen to it on the way to work, I listen to it on the way home. Heck, I once got a speeding ticket because Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and I got so caught up in pretending to be a conductor that I was paying no attention to my driving.
I've had countless bonding moments with volunteers at work over our shared love of various programs. I've introduced several people to Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me and My Word who are now die hard fans. I once drunkenly sent a fan letter to Peter Sagal and squealed like a 12-year-old belieber when I got a response. I got really excited about going to Write Club in Atlanta because I found out that someone involved actually worked for WABE. I met someone who works for Storycorps and may have made her feel a bit odd with how enthusiastic I was about her job. Even now that I’m friends with Myke Johns, and see Amanda Plumb every so often around town… When Aleck Ragsdale interviewed me at Dragon*con this year, I felt ecstatic.
So, why is this my first time pledging?
Well, one- because I’m broke. With my part time job at the Aquarium (surely you understand the frustrations of working for a non-profit) and non-existent writing career, I don’t tend to have any spare change.
And two- because ever since I endured my first pledge drive, I told myself that when I was a grown-up, I would pledge. It became this huge thing in my brain. My one true sign of adulthood would be my ability to pledge for WABE. Well, I guess I’m a full grown woman, now. I can’t pledge much… but every bit helps, right?
