My Car Radio and Other Useless Thoughts

As standard equipment on my 2010 Chevy Malibu, I have XM Radio, which is a commercial-free, satellite-based, double-sonar, star-guided, infrared, stereophonically programmable system.

I made all that up. I don't know how it works. I only know I like it.

There are hundreds of XM stations available. It is niche broadcasting at its finest. Here are some of the niches:

all jazz (and real jazz too; none of that smooth jazz nonsense) I've put this in the #1 position on the dial. (Actually, it's not a dial anymore.)

all classical (I've programmed that station into the #2 slot in case i ever have to impress someone.)

about a zillion sports stations (evidently, in this part of Florida there is some interest in SEC football; when you register to vote you have to declare your party affiliation and whether you're a 'Bama or Gator booster)

CNN Radio (I've programmed this one so that I can annoy any conservatives who might be riding with me.)

Fox News Radio (I've programmed this one so that I can bring on a migraine at a moment's notice.)

Here are a few of the other XM station options available: All Things Pork, The Catfish Station, The All-Sinatra Station (I'm not kidding!), The All-Sha Na Na Station (I am kidding), The Renault Station (That would be a nichette), Whatever happened to...?(This one doesn't exist, but what a great station that would be!), Bad Stuff You Didn't Realize about Your New Malibu (I knew I should have bought the Fusion).

With all these stations on XM, it will be a while before I work my way down to lowly FM or especially AM. While I was driving here in my dependable old Honda, I did find a weak local AM station which was broadcasting a kind of "Swap Meet"...people would call in with stuff they wanted to trade or sell and others would call in with offers to buy or trade. It was fascinating. There was nothing offered of real value in my opinion; it was all pretty much used up junk; yet, there seemed to be someone out there interested in everything that was being offered. Would this show survive in more prosperous times or in a more prosperous area? I wonder what a "Central Park West Swap Meet Radio Show" would be like...

Caller #1: Howdy, y'all. I have a 2008 Lexus coupe I'd like to swap.

Host: Well, she is 2 years old. What'er ya lookin' to git for her?

Caller #1: I'd like 2 tickets for a Yankees game.

Host: For a 2008 Lexus? You must be dreamin' sweetheart.

Caller #2: I'll swap 2 tickets to a Yankees-Oakland game for that there Lexus if'n y'all will throw in paid parkin' for a year.

Host: Looks like we've got ourselves a swap, y'all.

...or somethin' like that...(Hey, they can't all be gems!)

Apropos of nothing, yesterday I signed a one year lease for the 3-bedroom condo on Navarre Beach. Linda, the landlady, mentioned that she and her husband, Travis, have a lot of "extra stuff" for the condo in storage, and that she will email me an inventory and I can have anything on the list brought to the condo. That inventory hasn't arrived yet, but here is what I hope is on it:
1. salami
2. an XM radio user's manual
3. a Gulf Coast pronunciation guide
4. a Red Sox waste basket (I had one, but it didn't make the trip)

Finally, a little story about the sunset picture. Every now and then something happens on this odyssey that lets me know that I'm not traveling alone. I went down to the beach to try and capture the beauty of this particular sunset, and I saw a couple trying to take a picture of themselves with the sun in the background. Being the expert photographer that I am, I approached them and told them that I'd be happy to take their picture. They obviously hadn't read this blog so they quickly agreed. After I took their photo, we got to talking and they asked about me. I told them Ada's sad story and the woman grasped my hand.

"I'm a hospice chaplain," she said. "I know what you're going through. I think you're doing a very brave and wonderful thing by coming down here." We spoke for a half hour. There were some tears.

How does that happen? How is it possible that on a quiet stretch of beach at sunset one evening, I happen to meet a person so closely connected and so in touch with Ada's beautiful battle?

Ain't life grand?

Much love,
J