Growing up I hated NPR. Maybe it was the association I made between the opening chimes of All Things Considered and driving to piano lessons after school or maybe the fact that a women named Michelle Norris could get away with pronouncing her name Mee-shell instead of the regular way. I dreaded Saturday morning errands with my mom because I knew Click and Clack would be yacking away about gaskets and brake pads during Car Talk. And yet, I never attempted to change the station because I was scared of the wrath of the master radio controller, aka my mother. My only solace came when Garrison Keeler’s voice rang from the speakers with Live from Lake Wobegon and I knew it was time for A Prairie Home Companion. I never really understood the stories but at least I could relax and listen to music ( don’t worry I’m not talking Lindesy Lohan’s Frankie and Johnny from the movie).
Well my friends, I have something to admit. No, no, Mee Shell and I have not made amends, but in the past few years I have frequently found myself willingly changing the dial to the dreaded 90.1. It took me a while to come to terms with this, but I cannot deny my love for Ira Glass’s somewhat womanly voice welcoming me to This American Life or Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me’s weekly limerick competition. In fact, I often find myself falling asleep to reruns of these podcasts playing sweetly in my ear. All I can ask is what has this world come to? Can this mean I am entering adulthood?
My name is Molly Turner and I really want Carl Castle’s voice on my answering machine…
