A goodbye party full of hellos...

Last night I was at a going away party for a friend who'd been fired but never got to say goodbye. I know how she feels.
Karen Steele was my boss at the Mix for my last couple of years and a few months ago she got canned.
When that happens in Radio and you're on the air...you never get to come back and say goodbye to the listeners.
When you are a PD and you get the gate, you don't get the "Hey it was great to work with you party" no matter how long you were on staff. Last night Karen got that party.

For me it was great to see her and her husband Blair Bartrem, who is the PD of Q107 and also my former boss. He's also the only guy that's flown with me and heard me get bitch-slapped by Air Traffic Control. (Long story but it involved almost flying into a parachuter. Apparently frowned upon.)

I also got to see Mix Music Director Wayne Webster, the lovely Maura Grierson, Jim Richards from CFRB (who is just real funny), my pal Andy Wilson(who is also very funny), EZ Rock afternoon guy KJ( who is a freaky good Jock) and so many more. Including the guy that fired me Gary S.
He and I have a good relationship despite the fact that he's responsible for me not being on the Radio for the past 24 months. Which as some of you have gleaned has been a pretty great time in my life. I'm not saying that it wouldn't have been good to be a broadcaster for the past couple of years but by stepping away from it I've had so many other amazing opportunities and experiences.
I will say this though, hanging with those Radio people last night I realized what I missed about doing the gig. Just like any job, it's the people.
It was nice to get a chance to say hello and goodbye for me too.