We could use some support: Become a Patron!
Ron-Lundy-Show-WIL-Radio-Feb.281962.mp3
House has been empty for a week - packed up and stuffed onto a Bekins Truck - your life - your family - your earthly possessions, heading west - forever.
You and your mom and your brother - Waiting Room at the Train station - Dad on a plane - new job starts Monday - no time to sightsee. Bought a house in a place called Encino. You hear there's a swimming pool - you heard it's Summer all the time. You don't believe them - yeah, what about earthquakes? - you heard about those. St. Louis gets tornadoes - big deal.
The nerve, they call a train City Of Los Angeles - should be called "Goodbye Your Old Life Limited".
You have friends; a lot of friends. You were "this close" to having a girlfriend - she gave you her number - weekend movies and makeout sessions - never gonna happen now. You heard the girls in L.A. won't like you - you're chubby and you have cuffs on your jeans and your hair sticks straight up and you're getting pimples. Your brother looks like Bobby Rydell - you don't - you aren't going to - he got all the looks - you got all the flab.
He's looking forward to L.A. - you aren't - you're dreading it - why couldn't they leave you here? You have cousins - they would take you in - you'd be happy - you'd write your mom letters - you'd visit over Summer - you would promise; scouts honor - no cigarettes - no Schlitz.
Train's late - storm's coming. Toshiba Pocket Transistor tucked in your shirt - WIL filling your ear - weather report. You remember being snowed in. You would probably be snowed in if you stayed.Temperature drops - the station is drafty.
They tell you your blood will thin out when you live in L.A. - everything about that town you are liking less and less. Boiling - flabby and blood you can see through - you've died and gone to hell.
A head pops up in the row behind the seats across from you. You make eye contact - she's cute - she's your age - smiles like sunshine - she holds a transistor radio in her hand and points to it - and then to you - she sees your earphone - she has one too. She flashes a broad smile and gives a thumbs-up. You blush red but nod in agreement - forget your nerves - this is important.
Kindred soul - she likes the same radio station you do.
Maybe - just maybe . . .
And almost an hour of Ron Lundy from WIL Radio in St. Louis, exactly as he sounded on February 28, 1962.
No comments:
Post a Comment