MICK KAHLER'S WORLD

A look back at my 2024.

Back in February I attended the beautiful memorial service for my longtime friend Tom Hassler.  Tommy passed a couple months earlier at the way too young age of 67.  Looking at the large collages of photos at the church, Tom did a lot of living and raised a large and great family in that time. I cannot stress enough the influence Tom Hassler had on me from the time I was 5 until I was 18.   We were good friends until the end and I’ll always be grateful for that.

My longtime friend Tom Hassler is gone but will never be forgotten.

Two other passings of note were my swim buddy Paul Piaskowy and an old college classmate, Jeff Copland.  I hadn’t seen Jeff in person in years but we stayed in touch often on Facebook.  I always enjoyed his posts and his feedback on my posts.  Paul was full of fun stories and we lit each other up with laughs and fun at East End Pool

Al Flash and I worked up more parody songs and videos played on the WGN Morning News.  This year’s most popular covered what a terrible season the White Sox had.  This ditty garnered great reactions online and thousands of views.

It was another great swim season at East End Pool. During my 6 week summer vacation, I only missed 2 days due to bad weather. My ‘Summer Family” there grew and every day was a lot of fun and laughs.

Another great summer was spent at East End Pool.

Over the summer I took delivery of a brand new bed, my first in almost 20 years, My old bed was worn down to the thickness of a matzo and it was a mess.  My new larger rack from Big Fig is a dream.

My new bed is way comfortable. Love it!

The York Class of 1979 45^th reunion was a stone groove.  Both nights filled with laughs, memories and gratitude that many of us are still here and in decent health.  The 50^th reunion is already being planned and it will be here before we know it.  (I hope we are too!)

My Lincoln grade school classmates and I gathered for a group photo at York’s Class of 1979 45th reunion.

At school it was a rough semester for my classroom. Easily the hardest I ever experienced.  Due to repeated disciplinary issues several of my original students were transferred to other schools.  This was done for the betterment of their educations. I had to attend many more meetings than ever before and there are more challenges to face in the 2^nd semester.  I hope things go a bit smoother.

If only my students this year were as entertaining as Jeff Spicoli.

Yes, my media memoir “Raised on the Radio” went through its final, final edit.  If I tried to make it any better, it would get worse.  (I stole that line from Bruce Springsteen as he talked about the work done to get his 1982 ‘Nebraska’ album finished) Now I’m putting together the frame work for photos, promotion and sample excerpts.  Had my school semester not been so rough, I would be further along on all these tasks.

A rough semester with my students hampered further progress on my completed book.

In early December I had my second career colonoscopy and just like back in 2013, my pipes were clean as a whistle. I’ve been working on better eating habits and more exercise and being in the medical procedure environment just reiterated the importance of both.

2025- As far as the New Year goes, some of the plans I have are in their infancy and as time goes on, you’ll know what I’m up to.

This is my last blog for 2024, so I wish you all the happiest, safest and warmest of holidays and a wonderful new year too!

Peace and Love,

Mick

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY FESTIVUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here are some new shows and films to look out for.

MAN ON THE INSIDE – On Netflix.  This eight episode series stars Ted Danson who’s headlined a few sitcoms since “Cheers” so, I was a little leery about whether this show would be worth seeing.  IT IS!  Ted plays a retired widower who is hired to go undercover and investigate a theft at a senior living facility.  Smart writing, funny and poignant at the right times and the elderly folks are shown in a sweet and dignified way.   I was totally charmed by this show.

I hope we get a 2nd season of “Man on the Inside.”

THE ORDER- This tense drama about a scary racist faction….

Looking forward to checking out this drama which sadly reflects what is going on in some parts of our country.

“NO GOOD DEED” Interesting series with a varied and known cast.  Looks to be a real estate drama and will start on Netflix on December 12^th.

This series is loaded with stars and looks like a ‘must see’ one.

“CARRY ON”- Another offering from Netflix, this movie covers a TSA worker put into a dangerous situation.  It is available on December 13^th, and I’m in line ready to check my bag.

Another intense appearing movie, I hope it’s as good as the trailer.

Don’t laugh at this one.  “The Last Showgirl” stars Pamela Anderson and there is real early Oscar buzz for her!  This one opens on the coasts on December 13^th and will be in Chicago theaters in early January. A quick take on Ms. Anderson. In my radio days I knew of a couple people who worked with Pamela on different projects and they said she is a total pro. No diva attitude and always on time and on the mark. I’ll definitely see this one!

Pamela Anderson is getting rave comments for her role in this new movie.

Movie Releases Due out December 25^th–Red hot heartthrob Timothee Chalamet stars in a Bob Dylan biopic titled “A Complete Unknown.”  The trailer looks impressive.  That’ll be my film to see on Christmas Day.

Timothee Chalamet does his own singing in this biopic and from what I’ve heard, it’s impressive work.

Then there’s Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl” which is a psycho-sexual movie that’s best not seen on Christmas day.  Advanced reviews and buzz are strong but hope it’s more erotic than the time Nicole starred with then husband Tom Cruise in the dull and stupid “Eyes Wide Shut.”

I’ll probably check out this sexual/psycho film but NOT on Christmas Day!

Also, out on Christmas Day is “Nosferatu” and it looks very scary.  However, this evil vampire offering is not exactly the film to see on the same day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus.   (I remember feeling very uncomfortable seeing the drug and sex filled “Wolf of Wall Street” one Christmas Day) Anyway, this dark film is still on my ‘must see’ list.

Eerie and creepy, this vampire movie’s trailer is pretty terrorizing.

One more film to cover.  “Waltzing With Brando” comes out later in 2025 and “Titanic” co-star Billy Zane portrays Marlon Brando in a biopic.  Strange casting? Maybe not.  Just check out this side by side comparison of the real Marlon  Brando in “The Godfather” and Billy  Zane portraying the late great actor.

The real Brando on the left and Billy Zane as Brando on the right.

NEXT BLOG- ‘Saying so long to 2024.”

First off congratulations to the York Dukes varsity football team for a fantastic season.  For the first time in their history, the Dukes made it to the final game for the state championship down at Illinois State University.  Unfortunately, the Dukes lost to  Loyola Academy but what a great year it was for that gridiron gang!

Driving by York’s beautiful stadium on Friday nights and seeing the stands packed guts to butts is way cool.  I opt for watching their games live on You Tube.  York’s sophomore team had a great season and those second yearers will move up to the big squad in 2025.  Look for more great things from these hard working young players.

The Dukes of York had a great season and expect to do as well or better next year.

We all know what a nightmare this Bears season has been.  As usual, me and parody pal Al Flash put together a song for the ‘Midgets of the Midway.  WGN Ch.  9 Morning News aired about half the video then had to cut to commercials.  Here’s the whole tune.

The Bears poor season earned this parody song from me and Al Flash. And yes, with head coach Matt Eberflus just getting fired, we have another tune in the works.

I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy dreams about my departed parents and sister Maryanne.  I wake from them never frustrated but grateful they came for a ‘visit.’  My most recent dream had me driving my mom to a hospital appointment but she wasn’t sick.  We get to the lobby and mom buys me a book written by comedian Jim Gaffigan and he signed it.  Mom also was hiding a birthday card for me that would be given later after she stuffed lottery scratch-off tickets in it.  How this dream came about is anyone’s guess but before falling asleep that night I watched Jim Gaffigan do a guest shot on the Jimmy Kimmel show.

Comic Jim Gaffigan’s recent visit with Jimmy Kimmel played into a dream I had about my dear departed mother.

Over the past couple of years, I realized I am the KING OF PARKING.  It seems anytime I need to park my humble Chevy Cavalier, I always find the closest and best parking space, almost instantly.  One example is when I go to the York Theater in downtown Elmhurst, every time I locate the perfect space either right next to or across the street from that movie palace.  Same goes for when I arrive at East End Pool for my summer swims or when I do my grocery shopping at Jewel.  I bragged about this parking skill on Facebook and Dan White, a former classmate of mine, claimed to be better than me when it comes to finding the best rest spots for his car.  Maybe Dan and I should have a play-off or call it a park-off. 

The parking gods love me as it seems like an open spot in a choice location is always waiting for me.

One thing that brings huge smiles to me is when I’m on Facebook and click into quick video clips of dogs being adopted out of Animal shelters. Seeing those wagging tails and how excited the shelter workers are that another pooch has been rescued is a huge mood lifter.  I wish there were more cat rescue videos to see but most felines are so mellow and low-key that their reactions aren’t as electric.  

Seeing pics and video clips of dogs being rescued from shelters is an automatic mood lifter.

The Grammy Awards nominations came out recently and I was happy to see Sarah Jarosz land two nods.  Sarah is a much respected singer-songwriter in the style reminiscent of Mary Chapin Carpenter. Her most recent album is titled “Polaroid Lovers” and it includes good tunes like “Jealous Moon” (love that title) and “Runaway Train.” Sarah’s work is big with those who are into the Americana category of music.

Sarah Jarosz’s music is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

As much as I love country music, I’ve never really warmed to Jason Aldean’s songs.  However, his thoughtful tribute to Toby Keith at last month’s CMA awards was damn good.

Jason Aldean’s tribute to the late Toby Keith was heartfelt and top notch.

Another fun music find is on You Tube. The Middle Aged Dad Jam Band is a group of musicians who cover well known pop hits.  One jem is their playing the Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton hit “Islands in the Stream” with guest singer Kristen Bell.  BTW, “Islands in the Stream” is just another song that was written by the lone living Bee Gee, Barry Gibb.

Actress Kristen Bell guest sings with the Middle Aged Dad Jam Band. Well done!

One more music note- HBO has a new documentary on Yacht Rock.  It’s a deeply researched feature on a type of music we all know but never had a real label for it.  Interesting stories are shared by the musicians who created this music.

I learned lots about the musicians who created the songs I’ve been listening to for decades. Yacht Rock is the label and the stories behind it are fun to hear.

I remember fifty years ago when I thought that the coolest thing in the world would be when I matured enough to start shaving.  Whiskers kicked in at age 16 for me and by the time I graduated high school I was shaving 3 times a week.  Then my face got hairier. Throughout college and into my first few post grad years, I grew beards, mustaches, goatees, etc.  However, by the time I hit 30, I realized shaving was a gigantic drag.  

Shaving was something I looked forward to when I was much younger. Today, not so much.

Do you know a phrase I hope goes away? It’s when someone is about to make a statement and their first words are “I ain’t gonna lie…”  I hear this from my high school students all the time, but now more folks of all ages are saying the same phrase.  Enough, please.  And I ain’t gonna lie, knock it off!”

Please! Let’s lose this catch phrase ASAFP.

NEXT BLOG: Some coming attractions.

Here’s what I’m thankful for this year.

“My family and friends are the best things I’ve known, through the eye of a needle I’d carry them home.”  – (‘Minutes to Memories’- John Mellencamp)

**Amazing parents, sister and grandparents who were the best guiding lights I could’ve ever asked for.  Despite them being long gone, their influence remains with me to this day.

**My niece Dei, Nephew Mike and their wonderful families.  Their father Jack Nagy was so good to my sister Maryanne throughout her life.  

**Loving family dogs and kitties who brought so much fun to my life.  Coach, Prissy, Squeaks, Bambi, Molly, Minnie, Bugger, Sonny Boy, Daisy, Dudley and Trouble. 

**Dear friends who are family to me. Bobbo and I have been brothers from other mothers for fifty-one years.  Marko, with whom we’ve shared more music and sports moments than either of us can count.  My pals Phil and Todd who’ve been yearslong constants as well.  And my song parody Al Flash. With Al, how many people can say they bonded with someone when both of us were in our fifties and we’ll be like this until our last day? 

**Growing up with the Swain-Mitchell boys.  Staying in close touch with them for so many years means the world to me.  And Tommy Hassler & Jerry Dhamer, you two are missed by all.

**The departed Lee Swanson, my friend and mentor whose guidance brought me to working with Larry Lujack and my radio career from there continued. And what a fun radio career it was! My close friendship with Uncle Lar until his last day was another blessing.

**Others from my days in radio who continue to be friends.  Jim Turano, Big John Howell, Trish Biondo, Ramblin’ Ray Stevens, Mitch Michaels, Robert Murphy, Phil Doc Duncan, Cindy Raymond and memories of the late Tom Teuber.

**The fact that I found a second career after radio that I love as much.  Teaching kids with behavior issues is often a challenge but worth it.  Who knows?   I might even have a ‘third act’ in my life.

**My summer family at East End Pool; too many names to mention but I consider myself lucky to be swimming in their slipstream!

**As far as women go, yes there’ve been romances. Relationships that taught me as much about myself as I’ve learned about the fairer sex.  There’s also been some fine platonic friendships with other women that remain important to me.

It’s never a bad idea to count your blessings…

Some other things to be thankful for:

**My health at 63 (2 months shy of 64) It’s pretty good and getting better.

**Excellent care from a team of medical professionals ranging from my general practice doctor to a fine dentist.

**Living in a warm and safe house, the one I grew up in and how good it feels to come home every day.

**The honest and conscientious mechanics at JMS Auto in Elmhurst who take care of my aging but still reliable car.

**Local Handyman Bill who has been a go-to guy for me for years. I’m not the most fix-it savvy guy in the world.

**My Sport Clips stylist Brittany who’s been shaping my hair for over ten years.  Well done, my dear.

!! Finally, I’m thankful for a sharp memory that recalls in detail a ridiculously deep well of great times had in this life.  Add to that, a curious and active mind that has much more to write about and more to enjoy in this life.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

NEXT BLOG: Hitting to all fields.

Here are some reviews to share.

“Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley.”  This new Netflix documentary covers all that set up Elvis’ legendary 1968 comeback TV Special.  Great remembrances from Springsteen, Robbie Robertson, Billy Corgan, Conan O’Brien and others frame this story.  Elvis’ ex-wife Priscilla also offers insight too but looks absolutely plastic with all the facial reconstructs she’s had.  Still, the best part of this special is the footage from that ’68 special.  Also, this documentary was created and produced by the great but unheralded singer-songwriter John Eddie who is pals with Priscilla and also knew her daughter, the late Lisa Marie.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s recent visit to the Howard Stern Show was excellent.   Search on You Tube and catch great talks about Bruce’s songs along with some fine in-studio jams.  My favorite being their take on “Glory Days.”

Bruce and the E Street Band tear it up with Howard Stern.

Movies to see-

“Heretic”-One of the most intelligent films I saw this year.  Great script and Hugh Grant is beyond creepy as a spiritual seeker as he welcomes two young Mormon women into his house to share their message of religious hope.  Speaking of Grant’s home, it is so creepy it makes Buffalo Bill’s place in “Silence of the Lambs” look like “Romper Room.”  And you’ll never listen to the Hollies’ “The Air That  I Breathe” the same way again!

“Heretic” is tense and a fun ride through a smart spiritual and psychological plot.

I gave a solid ‘B’ to the tense Vatican offering “Conclave.” Great cast, script and plot changes that are totally unexpected. Look for Ralph Fiennes to get an Oscar nomination and the film itself should get a nomination too.

“Conclave” is Oscar worthy with an incredible ending.

On Netflix, “Woman of the Hour” was skin crawling crazy in a fun way.  Anna Kendrick directed and stars in this story about the real life “Dating Game Killer.”  I’ve watched this one twice!

Based on a true story of the so called ‘Dating Game Killer’, this one is more than worth your time.

Also on Netflix, I stumbled upon the new documentary on Martha Stewart.  I never gave the famed home making maven much thought but her story is really fascinating.  From her childhood to her rise, fall and return to the stratosphere, Martha has lived quite a life and she ain’t done yet.

Everything you didn’t know about Martha Stewart is shown in this documentary.

On Demand, I graded the brand new “Cellar Door” movie a “B+” for its intriguing story about a couple who moves into a dream house with one strange caveat that brings about conflict and mystery.

This trailer sets up what happens in The Cellar Door” and it’s a strange romp in a dream house.

New on HBO is the series “It’s Florida, Man” which shows us crazy true stories from that nutty state.  These tales are re-enacted but you do meet the real life men and women involved in stories about losing limbs by humans & animals. There’s also a weird tale about mermaids and witches and a weird way to burn down a mobile home.

Ever hear of ‘Floridiots’? You’ll find some in this limited HBO series.

Another offering on HBO is the tense docuseries “Breath of Fire” which centers on a Yoga cult and the lives of its followers influenced by a dynamic and nefarious leader.

A woman with no direction in her life joins a Yoga cult and eventually takes things over. A true story that almost seems like make believe.

Come this weekend there are two big films opening in theaters, “Wicked” and “Gladiator 2” but I have no interest in either. I never saw the “Wicked” play and I’m doubting director Ridley Scott can equal what he did with Russell Crowe in the original “Gladiator.”

Finally, a couple weeks ago WGN Morning News co-host Robin Baumgarten celebrated a birthday and yes, Al Flash and I worked up a song to mark the occasion.  Channel 9 didn’t air this one (they had other Robin bits to show) so we’ll pocket this one until next year.

NEXT BLOG- A list of “Thank-yous.”  

This week marks ten years since my only sibling, my loving sister Maryanne O’brien Nagy passed away.  For several years she dealt with a wicked auto-immune affliction called Wegener’s Disease of which there is no cure.  Anytime I’d mention Wegener’s to a medical professional they would always wince and give me that “I’m so sorry, that’s a rough diagnosis” look.  Years before, Maryanne was a nurse and she knew what the inevitable outcome of her kidney disease would be. Yet, she lived strong and determined to see both of her children Doreen (Dei) and Michael get far enough along in their lives to know they were doing well.  My sister made it to that goal.

Back in 1995. Back row L-R husband Jack husband & me, middle row, our mom and Mary, front row daughter Dei and son Mike.

But I prefer to focus on how Maryanne lived in her 57 and a half years. Mary as we all knew her, was a product of my mother’s first marriage and I was the only offspring of my mom and dad.  In practical terms, Mary was my half-sister.  But in truth she was my full 100% sister and my first best friend growing up. My closest ally and confidant. My parents would tell me how as I learned to talk, I’d call her “Mee-ann” and how excited I’d get when she came home from Ogden Elementary school in La Grange where we lived before moving to Elmhurst in 1966.

Through 6^th grade, Mary was a very athletic Tom boy and my first baseball instructor and swim lesson buddy too.  Then with physical maturing and the lightening of her brown hair to blonde, my sister became a junior high school cutie with many boys wanting to go steady and date her.  This continued into high school where she worked part time at Elmhurst Hospital’s dietary department, bringing food trays up to patients.

It was at this job where Mary decided she wanted to become a registered nurse. However, her idiot guidance counselor at York High School (Roy Sundquist) told Mary to forget that plan because her science class grades were only average.  Well in January of 1975, Mary went on to graduate York a semester early and started her course work at the College of Du Page.  Come May of 1978 (less than 3 ½ years later, we attended her nurse’s graduation ceremony.  So, take that Mr. Sundquist!

Mary had several different nursing jobs working at Elmhurst Hospital, Lutheran General in Park Ridge and Good Samaritan in Downers Grove where she met a patient named Gary O’Brien was in for a cancer remission check-up.   Mary and Gary fell in love and married in the summer of 1982.  They bought a sweet home in Sycamore which was closer to where they both worked at that time.  Sadly, Gary’s cancer returned in early 1984 and he died that March.  Maryanne O’Brien, my dear sister was a widow at age 26. 

Her faith in God’s will and support from family and friends sustained Mary and two years later she met Jack Nagy and they wed in December of 1987.  By March of 1990, they had their two children and after a brief move to New Mexico; the young parents settled closer to Illinois by buying a warm ranch house in Janesville, Wisconsin.  Jack was a mailman, supporting the family on his income and Mary became a full time stay at home mom.  She adored her kids and did anything and everything to raise them right.  After her illness took hold, my sister still did whatever she could for Dei and Mike and Jack picked up all that she could not do.  My sister could not have picked a more dedicated husband and father than Jack.  He loved her to the very end and I’ll always love him for that.

 Here are some more highlights from the sister-brother relationship we had back in the day.

**Taking me and my friends to our first ever concert as we saw Elton John rock the  Chicago Stadium in 1976.  She and I went on to see Elton live three more times after that, the last time in 1984 when we sat 5 rows away from E.J. What a night that was!

**Buying cigars for me and my friends for our all-night poker games and teaching us how to drink ‘Slow Screws’ which were a mixture of sloe gin and orange juice.

**Convincing me to fess up to my parents about my severely burnt leg after a corn stalk fire got out of control. I had third degree burns and as a nursing student, she worried about me getting a bad infection. A trip to the E.R. quickly took place.

**There was the time a pal of mine called at midnight in need of bail money after being arrested for underage drinking.  Maryanne ponied up the cash and drove me over to the Elmhurst police station so we could spring him.

**The many trips she took me and friends to Lake Geneva to play pinball at the Gameland arcade and to have other fun up in America’s Dairyland.

**Mary taught me about all the characters on the ABC-TV soap operas to the point that like her, I was hooked on “Ryan’s Hope”, “All My Children”, “One Life to Live” and “General Hospital.”

**The first car I ever bought was Mary’s brown 1980 Toyota Celica as she opted to buy a new 1984 Celica. 

**There’s a million more memories of wonderful Christmases, birthdays and other times when we shared so many laughs and loves and cherished happenings.

**And I cannot forget Mary’s passion for dogs and cats since she was eight years old.  Her biggest love being for Boston Terriers.  Over the years Mary rescued four of those little darlings, Casey, Rosie, Murphy and Sammy Sosa.  She passed that love on to her daughter Dei who is a dedicated dog mom to Ruby.

Like I did for both my father and mother, I delivered the eulogy for Maryanne’s memorial service.  It was a tough one to get through but I managed to do so by recalling all of the strength and determination and love my sister had throughout her life.

I’ll always miss my ‘Mee-ann’ but I’m also grateful for all she brought to my life and those lucky enough to know her.

Rest in Peace my dear sister.

NEXT BLOG– Reviews and Previews.

Boo!  Did I scare you?  Wow! So many houses in Elmhurst really dress up their yards for the spooky season of Halloween.  Whoever is selling those 10 foot skeletons for front yard displays are making a fortune!  For the past few years those bony structures and larger than life inflatables have been decorating hundreds of yards in town.  There’s one family in town that posts up giant spiders on the front of their large white home and it looks really cool.

Back in my younger days, it was just a carved pumpkin or two on the front porch and that was it for Halloween decorations. While not really into the dress up the yard or myself for Halloween bit, seeing all this décor and preparations brings back loads of memories from the past. Here are some of them.

When I was 9, my grandma sewed me a Dracula cape of black velvet with red satin on the inside which served me for eight Halloweens.  My mom had to lengthen the cape as I grew taller.

MY VAMPIRE CAPE LOOKED MUCH LIKE THIS GUY’S. BUT I WORE NICE BLACK SLACKS BECAUSE DRACULA WAS A GOOD DRESSER!

Trick or treating would take place right after school until 9 p.m.  I don’t recall many parents going out with their kids. Moms and dads were always at home dishing out treats while older brothers and sisters looked after the younger candy hunters. Throughout the late afternoon and into the night, my sister Marianne and I would fill up two pillow cases apiece with treats each. Bowls of sweets were in our house for many days after.

From age 14 thru 16 I helped work the haunted house at Lincoln School when they held their annual Halloween carnival. Scaring the wits out of kids and adults was a guilty pleasure for me.  Back then, every school in town would hold similar night time carnivals for their students and the parents.

SCHOOL HALLOWEEN CARNIVALS LOOKED MUCH LIKE THIS ONE BACK IN THE DAY.

Freshman year in college me, Will Costello and his sisters Patty and Jeanne drove 6 hours to join Will’s brother Terry and other friends at Southern Illinois University’s wild Halloween party.  Downtown Carbondale was a bedlam of drunkenness and substance abuse. It was like the last days of Caligula down there! As the years went on, the Halloween insanity at S.I.U. had to be shut down for safety’s sake.

THE PARTYING ON HALLOWEEN IN DOWNTOWN CARBONDALE WAS PRETTY NUTTY.

When in my early twenties I joined pals twice for Halloween pub crawls in Chicago’s Division Street bar district. The drinking started around noon and went on all night. The first of those sojourns saw a cute gal dressed as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark corner me off a dance floor and attack me for some serious fang to mouth action. The next time I did that crawl, the girl I was dating at the time got so drunk she barfed in a plastic bag in my car as I drove her home. 

REMEMBERING THE ELVIRA DRESSED HOTTIE WHO ATTACKED ME AT A DIVISION STREET BAR. GOOD TIMES. AND I SURVIVED!

During my radio days, the best Halloween fun happened when I was producing at WCKG FM. Our station’s marketing people hired TV’s Batman and Robin (Adam West and Burt Ward) to spend the day with us. They did a long visit with The Miller & Howell Morning Show) where I learned Adam West’s favorite Catwoman was Julie Newmar.  That night they were the special guests of a massive costume party WCKG hosted in the Navy Pier Ballroom.  My favorite memory of that was seeing our six foot four newsman Steve Scott strolling through the party in his full sized Alf costume.

NEWSMAN STEVE SCOTT SPORTED A LIFESIZE ALF COSTUME LIKE THIS ONE.

Several times when I worked at US*99, a morning show sponsor gifted us with large boxes of candy.  I was the hero of my neighborhood handing out full sized Hershey bars and other sweet goodies.

Since then, my Halloween happenings have been limited to handing out treats to the kiddos who ring my doorbell.  The costumes sold today are so much more varied, imaginative and authentic than when I was little.  The accompanying parents sometimes dress up too, as they escort their youngsters from door to door.  It’s all good fun, just so long as the weather is agreeable.  Oh, and also that I don’t run out of treats before the end of the night.

JERRY SEINFELD WITH A VINTAGE BIT ON TRICK OR TREATING.

NEXT BLOG- Remembering my dear sister Maryanne.

October, 1994. I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since I experienced one of the  worst times of my young life.  It was Monday October 10^th when I came home from my job as morning show producer for US*99’s J.D. and the Katman Show.  A phone message from college pal Jim Turano told me Lee Swanson, my longtime friend and mentor was in Elmhurst Hospital and seriously ill. 

My dear friend, like a brother to me, Lee Swanson.

I quickly called the hospital and learned Lee was in the ICU unit at the end stage of his life.  He had a recurrence of cancer that was first overcome and seemingly beaten twelve years earlier.  Minutes later, I was at Lee’s bedside as he drifted in and out of consciousness.  He was not in pain and knew who I was and showed he was glad I was there.  We’d last seen each other a few weeks earlier meeting up at a local record store and catching up on each other’s goings on.  At that time there was no inkling that Lee’s cancer had returned.

I didn’t stay long at the hospital but told Lee I’d be back tomorrow.  That tomorrow never came. Later that evening Lee Swanson quietly passed away, he was only 42 at the time. Turano called me at the US*99 studios the next morning to give me the sad news. I was crushed, pulverized for sure. Lee was Yoda to my Luke Skywalker and I immediately became a tsunami of tears.  My only comfort being later when I learned I was the last person to see my friend before he slipped into a short coma and then passed away.

From the late 1980’s- (Left to right) Me, Dave Ross and our mentor Lee Swanson.

I shared this bad news with morning show co-host Trish Biondo before leaving the show early that day.  Trish passed my loss on to the rest of the show members I  know this because that night as I arrived at the J.D. and Katman 5^th Anniversary Party at Chicago’s Whiskey River club, John The Katman Katzbeck was the first to  greet me offering his condolences on the loss of my friend.  Red hot country star Joe Diffie and his band performed at the packed party that night and I made it to the event because I knew, despite my grief, Lee would want me to be at this party.

The next morning, we had a great morning show, reliving events from the 5^th anniversary party and all was O.K. with the world.  I got home and started processing my hurt feelings over Lee’s death.   Then, early that afternoon I got a call at home from Assistant Program Director Dean McNeil.  Dean told me John Katzbeck was stricken with a brain aneurysm at home and was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. The outlook for the Katman was bleak!  What the hell was going on?  My mom saw me take in this news on the phone and said I turned white as a sheet and looked like I was about to faint.

John The Katman Katzbeck promoting a giant pretzel.

The next few days were a slow motion blur.  US*99 listeners were informed of John’s situation as we prayed for the best possible outcome.  I attended Lee’s wake that Friday and his funeral on Saturday.  Coming to work early the following Monday morning we got the call that the Katman was not going to survive the aneurysm.  With no brain function he was being kept alive so that his organs and other body parts could be harvested to help others.   John Katzbeck was a great guy and an organ donor.  He passed away later that afternoon and the next two days we did on air tributes to our fallen co-host. We played his many country parody songs and other on air bits that made us laugh through our tears.  Listeners were as grief stricken as we were.  His passing made the local papers and we were even interviewed by a couple of Chicago TV stations. 

A memorial album honoring John and his many parody songs.

John’s wake was on Wednesday and his funeral attended by the whole radio station staff was on Thursday October 20^th.  J.D. Spangler gave a heartfelt eulogy filled with laughs, tears and warm memories.  After such an awful week, J.D. and Trish were given Friday off to rest and reflect.  Ramblin’ Ray Stevens would host that Friday show solo and moved on to replace the Katman on our morning crew.  In just over ten days I had been to two wakes and two funerals and was also given that Friday off to catch my breath.

On that day off, my best friend Bobbo took me and his young son Alex out to breakfast then we spent the rest of the morning at Brookfield Zoo.  That Sunday, Bobbo, our dear buddy Marko and I got together at a bar to watch the Bears game.  Having friends like these guys there to support me during this devastating insane time meant more to me than I could ever say. 

There would be some other friends and family who stepped up to comfort me and more intricate details of those good people and that time thirty years ago will be shared in my memoir “Raised on the Radio.”  In truth, I delayed full emotional processing of this double punch of loss for several months and it wasn’t until September of 1995 before my head and heart were cleared of my deep grief.

This all went down thirty years ago. It sometimes feels like it just happened.  Lee Swanson was practically an older brother to me and I NEVER would’ve gotten to a big time Chicago radio job as fast as I did without him.  John the Katman Katzbeck and I spent 16 months together when I joined US*99 in 1993 and as J.D. would say, we were “each other’s best audience” as we worked up morning show bits and laughs.   I’ll always miss those two guys but the memories and I have sustain me and bring a constant smile to my face.  Lee and John, you two were great to me and someday we’ll reunite for laughs, songs and good times.

NEXT BLOG- Halloween- Now and Then.

Just some of the Class of ’79, great guys one and all!

“With a friend at hand, you will see the light, if your friends are there then everything’s alright.”  (Bernie Taupin- sung by Elton John)

York High Schools class of 1979’s 45^th Reunion is in the books and what a great time it was!  Plenty of old friends, longtime friends and former classmates had the best time anyone could ask for.

First and fore most big thanks to the reunion’s organizers: Holly Maxson Kost, Linda Magneson Proudfoot, Sue Carlson Baader, Craig Nelson, Todd Beja, Frank Catalano, Tom Klatt, Lisa Fanelli and anyone else who I may be omitting. To put on a two-day event like this is no small feat.  Loads of planning, phone calls, emails, check-ins and countless ‘to do lists’ are just part of what goes on.  All I can say is there was not a disappointed alum at either Friday’s get together at Doc’s Victory Pub or Saturday night’s party across the street at Roberto’s.

Good times and cocktails at Doc’s Victory Pub with Scott Thiems, wife Sharon Allison Thiems, Dan White & Linda Proudfoot.

Sorry to say the Dukes football team lost Friday night’s game against Downers North but it was fun watching the game at Doc’s via the York Sports Network. Saturday night’s get together began with Rich Mc Laughlin reading the names of our former classmates who have passed away.  There were names to add in just the five years since we were together for the 40^th reunion.  Pastor Rich then followed that solemn moment with inspiring words and a heartfelt prayer for all of us.  If there’s one thing we all have learned in our post high school years is that tomorrow is promised to no one.  Appreciation for life and living it to the maximum is understood.

Both nights were filled with laughs, hugs, kisses, high fives and hundreds of stories of past days at York and lots more.  We’ve all done a lot of living in the 45 years since we graduated from the home of the Dukes and there was plenty of sharing of photos of kids, grandkids, talks of retirement or pending retirement and other life changes like divorces, remarriages, changes in home residences and hopes for the future.

During our reunion, I personally heard of health tales from several folks.  Everything from new knees and hip replacement operations, to bypass heart surgery, vision issues and the overcoming of cancer diagnoses.   It’s a relief to learn of the positive outcomes from these situations and humbling that I haven’t faced any of those maladies yet. Though, getting a new left leg hinge is coming for me in the next year or so.

Are some of us alumni sporting gray hair, less hair, more pounds and wrinkles than last time we met?  Sure.  But I can say that everyone at the reunion still had the glow of high school youth in their faces.  We’ll never lose that.  I don’t see these changes as signs of aging, we’re just evolving, moving forward in life’s progression.

Left to right- Dianne Turner, Joyce Bojko and yours truly at Doc’s.

One point to make is that many of us have bonds with classmates that began before our days at York started. Middle school, grade school, Elmhurst youth baseball, softball, hockey at the YMCA, junior basketball leagues, church and other local goings on being just some of the ways lots of us met.  Regarding grade schools, we all posed Saturday night with our K-6^th grade mates.  I’m proud to say my fellow Lincoln school classmates had the biggest turn-out at the reunion. Lincoln’s old building was razed a couple years back and the new school looks like a headquarters for Google.  Lincoln and almost all of the newly built schools and additions to older schools in Elmhurst have been constructed by the International Contractors Company which is co-owned by York Class of ‘77 alum Bruce Bronge.

The Lincoln school alums. We packed the place!

In my twenty years in Chicago radio andnow my time as a special education teacher I’ve done plenty of yakking, babbling and talking.  So, I took pleasure in sitting back and listening to my former classmates share the highlights and happenings in their lives.  Family, career, travel and other big experiences were the kinds of things I heard and everyone sure was happy to let others know how things were going all these years later.  Some even talked about driving by their old childhood homes in Elmhurst, some still standing and some leveled in favor of Mc Mansions.  Progress, I guess.

Doing all that watching and listening, a few classmates said some kind words to me.  Things like “I liked hearing you on the radio”, “Your Facebook posts are fun”, “I remember when you put together the White Castle slider party in Mr. Aggen’s math class,” and “I bet teaching is rewarding.”  I even was told a randy story of how a classmate was canoodling with someone years ago in Pioneer Park. The romancer told their partner, “I know the guy who named that park! It was Mick Kahler!” 

Full disclosure- I left the Saturday night party at 9:30 (I ran out of steam, old age I guess) and learned later that the wingding got so loud that the neighbors called the Elmhurst Police and they came in to ask for some toning down of the noise.  So, at age 63, the York crowd still had enough party power to have Five-O cruise in.   Way to go you guys!

Tom Klatt, a prime suspect in cranking the party to a level loud enough to bring in the Elmhurst Police!

I used to think reunions like ours were fun because we recalled the days when we were young, much younger.  But that’s not it. These reunions are special because we all had shared events for four years at York.  Classes, tests, ACT, SAT, Driver’s Ed, sports, plays, concerts, parties, dances, proms, dates, break-ups, meet—ups, part time jobs and of course the forward movement to graduation and beyond.  We were there together, it was a mutually shared experience and a damn memorable one.

Left to right- Sue Carlson Baader, Mark Carlson, Phil Williams and Brian Kinsella.

FOR MORE GREAT PHOTOS– CLICK TO THIS LINK ON FACEBOOK.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/591718297998995

So now we’re five years away from our 50  year reunion.  I know some initial plans for that get together are already in the works.  I hope and we’re all around to attend it and maybe others who missed last weekend’s blasts will make it too.  So, here’s to the York Class of 1979, wishing you continued health, happiness and as the BoDeans once sang, “Only good things.”

NEXT BLOG- Remembering a challenging week from 30 years ago.

            J.D. Souther at his induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

Singer-songwriter J.D. Souther passed away last week.  No cause of death was given but it appears to have been sudden and unexpected.  Souther was set to start a tour with Karla Bonoff in Phoenix on September 24^th.  

Some may be a little familiar with his name but I was an aware fan and appreciated J.D.’s work.  He co-wrote hits for the Eagles like “Best of my Love”, “Heartache Tonight”, “How Long”, the rocking romp “James Dean” and “New Kid in Town” which was reportedly written about the slowly rising star of Bruce Springsteen as he started to perform shows in L.A.  J.D. also penned the James Taylor song “Her Town Too” and co-wrote with Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and other stars. 

Regarding the Eagles success with Souther’s songwriting, this quote covers it all. “There was definitely a period of time where people would occasionally say to me, ‘Doesn’t it piss you off that the Eagles have these big hits off your songs?’ I would usually start saying, ‘Would you like to see the checks?’” Souther said in an interview with the Creative Independent. “Pissed off? How could I be pissed off? Even Glenn Frey once said — and he was kind of joking because he knows how the royalty thing works — but he said, ‘One of the reasons JD didn’t have a bigger solo career is because he gave us or Linda Ronstadt most of his best songs.’ And that’s sort of true.

J.D. Souther in the early 1970’s.

Souther’s 1979 top 10 pop hit “You’re Only Lonely” is a killer cut that gets to me anytime I hear it.  It has that Roy Orbison feel to it and evokes the emotions of deep hurt and comfort at the same time. I mean just the opening line, “When the world is ready to fall on your little shoulders and when you’re feeling lonely and small, you need somebody there to hold you, you can call out my name, when you’re only lonely.”  Wow!  Just amazing and universal…

Souther’s 1979 hit song “You’re Only Lonely.”

J.D. also collaborated with Don Henley and Mike Campbell on the great Henley song “The Heart of the Matter.”  I’ve written before how that track pulled me out of a deep funk after my first major adult romance slowly crashed and burned.  Don said that song took many years to experience and five minutes to record.  My gut tells me of all the Henley solo songs, that one has to be the one he gets the most personal thanks for.

J.D. was born in Detroit like his one-time duo partner Glenn Frey but grew up in Amarillo, Texas..  The two of them met up in L.A. in the late 60’s and wrote, recorded and toured as “Longbranch- Pennywhistle.”  Frey would go on to be in Linda Ronstadt’s backing band with Henley, Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner.  While this was happening, JD. Souther was living with Linda.  From what I’ve read about the Eagles lore and stories from the California sound of the 1970’s, J.D. was quite the ladies man who landed the most beautiful women that his music mates could only lust for.

With Souther gone, 8 plus years after his one time duo partner Glenn Frey left us, maybe heaven has re-born music from Longbranch-Pennywhistle.

The album released by J.D. and Glenn Frey as they worked as Longbranch-Pennywhistle.

I think a year or two ago J.D. Souther played a couple of shows at Chicago’s City Winery.  I now regret not going out to one of those concerts.  I bet those were very special nights of great music in an intimate setting.  Damn!

Earlier this year, J.D. joined the current Eagles line-up onstage in L.A. and Don Henley introduced him as part of the “tightknit community of songwriters and singers” that he and the Eagles’ Glenn Frey would turn to in the ’70s “when we would get stuck on a song or we’d try to start some new material.”

To be included into the tight Eagles inner circle of music making which Henley and Frey ruled over, that speaks volumes of the respect Souther had from them and others.  J.D. was also a member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. 

Souther also acted in movies like “Always”, “Postcards from the Edge” and “My Girl 2” along with a recurring role on TV’s “Thirty-Something.”  The guy was multi-faceted, no doubt.

Besides his music itself, another reason I appreciated J.D. Souther was because he was in the shadows of music giants but still had their respect and he helped them climb to higher heights.  Another such songwriter (who also wrote for the Eagles) is Jack Tempchin.  Jack has the same respect that Souther has.  The good news is Tempchin is still alive and performing. 

I have often equated my 20 year radio career as producer and sometime on air guy to J.D.  Souther and Jack Tempchin’s work in music.  I wasn’t THE star but I worked alongside and contributed much to some very big names and shows in Chicago radio.  That fits me and suits me just fine.

So, rest in peace John David Souther. With you gone, the world is only lonely.  But your music lives on and it keeps us company.

J.D. Souther performing at a Jimmy Buffett tribute just 5 months ago.

NEXT BLOG- When I know, you’ll know.