Another Reason Why I Love My Job

This morning, I received a call from a listener. She prefaced our conversation by saying she has a medical issue that causes a speech impediment. She spoke slowly, to make sure every word said was as clear as possible.

A dear friend and co-worker of hers had passed away recently from an overdose. She has been asked to speak at his funeral, and needed some help with recalling a song they used to sing together, “We Are The World” by USA for Africa. The two worked at a restaurant – she as a waitress, he as a cook. After the restaurant closed and they were cleaning up the business for the night, he would sing the song, she would join in, and it became a bonding thing for them.

She asked for details on the song, which I provided. She then began to tell me a story. I was in the middle of my radio show, and knew I needed to get on the air to say something in between songs, but I felt I needed to keep her on the air. Something in my head told me to hear her out, so I just kept playing music while she began her story.

Again, speaking slowly, she told me about how she has very limited funds, and was able to finally be able to buy a second-hand coat to keep her warm. Shortly after obtaining her coat, she came across someone on the street with a leg injury and no coat. She gave a total stranger the coat off of her back.

Her cadence quickened as the conversation began to wrap up. She then thanked me profusely for helping her out with the song she needed information on. What she said next made my day.

“You may think your just doing a 'job', but you help me to get out of bed, get out there, and do something good,” she said. She added the my station and I help her to keep going every day.

About a half-hour after our conversation, she called back, asking me if I could play “We Are The World” for her. I did right away. A few minutes afterward, she called back, crying for the loss of her friend, and thanked me for helping her grieve for her friend.

It's experiences like this that are so humbling and inspiring for me. I try to make sure my radio show is free from negativity, is as positive and fun for everyone as possible, and (as you may know) I end every program with a story of people doing good things for others. I'm not on a mission to change people's lives, but – every once in a while – I hear that we are doing something positive. That makes it all the more worthwhile for me.