Ch-Ch-Changes

To borrow a line from a David Bowie song, it is time for some “ch-ch-changes”!

This is going to be a long post, but stick with me…

The summer of ’22

Let’s go back to last summer — the summer of 2022. In July, I was visiting some friends out of state. We were sitting in a hot tub when I began to feel myself getting a little woozy. I climbed out of the water and sat on the edge, but shortly after getting out of the hot tub — I blacked out. A former medical worker witnessed what happened and was concerned I was having a mini stroke. An ambulance was called. I was hooked up to an EKG, they checked by blood pressure, and looked at all my vitals. By the time all the poking and prodding was over, I felt fine. The paramedics recommended that I follow up with my personal doctor…and I did.

During that visit to my healthcare provider, he asked me about a typical day in my life. I explained to him that I worked a lot of hours – from the time I get up in the morning until after midnight most days. Many of you may know that I was selling real estate, doing an air shift on 98.7 WFGR, and also working at FedEx in the evenings. Along with these three jobs, I was also trying to keep up with social media posts, blog posts, and help my friend with the company we started – Winrock Media.

It was determined that the health scare I had in July was related to being exhausted, needing sleep, and being dehydrated. The doctor told me pretty bluntly — that I was working myself to death. At my age I couldn’t – and shouldn’t – try to maintain that type of daily schedule.

The Sign

Jumping ahead a few months to September of 2022, I was vacationing in the Upper Peninsula near the Porcupine Mountains. I had a great time and took a lot of pictures. After vacation, I looked back at all the pictures I took — there was one that kept grabbing my attention. It’s the picture posted above of a road sign at the end of the road pointing left and right. The sign is located at the intersection of 107th Engineers Memorial Highway and South Boundary Road west of Ontonagon, near the Porcupine Mountains Visitor Center.

That sign has become so meaningful to me. It became a sign that I needed to change my lifestyle. I had three choices…continue on the path I was on and end up some place I didn’t want to be, or make a few changes going in one direction or the other.

Since that time I have been keeping an eye on my options and trying to figure out just what my new course in life was going to be. I turn the big 6-0 at the end of the month, and it was definitely time for a chance. I need to work one 40 hour a week job that included benefits — instead of all the jobs I was working.

Over the years I had tried for a couple of different full time positions at the radio station, but either they hired someone else or never filled the position. This month an opportunity presented itself for me to work with a former co-worker from over 20 years ago. After a few interviews I was offered the job…and quickly accepted.

Even though I’ll only be working about half the hours I have been working, I’ll still be working a full time job. My new job lets me continue doing something I’m very passionate about, while serving the community and also having the chance to mentor those who share the same passion for radio that I do. It also takes me back to my early broadcasting days from my late teens. I’ll also be working in an old building that I spent a lot of time in during my youth.

Turning Off the Microphone and Hanging Up the Headphones

The new job means that I have to say goodbye to the jobs I have been at for several years. I’ll no longer be selling homes (but have a great agent I can refer you too), I won’t be preparing freight to be loaded on airplanes at the airport with FedEx, and I won’t be on the air every afternoon on FGR. My last day on the air will be Sunday, March 26th, 2023.

I do want to thank everyone for listening over the years. It’s hard to believe I was hired at KLQ 34 years ago! It’s been three decades of ups and downs in the world of broadcasting, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am super excited about the new job. On Monday, March 27th, 2023, I start my new job as the Operations & Traffic Manager at the Grand Rapids Media Center’s radio station 88.1 WYCE!

I’ll still be around on social media and I hope to get back to posting more here on my personal blog in the future — now that I’ll actually have some free time to myself instead of working every hour of the day that I’m awake.

Thanks again for all your support over the years. I’m not going anywhere — West Michigan is my home and I plan on being here for years to come (or until I retire and move some place warmer — especially in the winter).