A throw-back to last Monday …
So I won tickets to see Boston. I don’t k now if it was the fact I actually won something OR the fact I’m going to see Boston OR if it’s the fact I called into a radio show which I haven’t done since I called U93 in South Bend to request Kokomo be played during its top ten heyday (kinda dated myself there a bit, huh?), but last Monday was one of the most exciting I’ve had in quite some time.
Here’s what happened:
Clifford turned me on to a fairly new radio show hosted by Mark Arum. Arum devotes his Monday nights to movies, which I love. He also runs a contest during the show where he plays the complete soundtrack of a particular film and at the end of the program you have a chance to guess which movie boasts those tracks.
Simple enough, right? Except I’m deaf and the tracks being played are in 3 second snippets as commercials are coming and going and people are talking over the music.
Yeah, I didn’t have a chance. You can ask my roommate from college. There was always this one jam on the radio I could never place (ok, it was pretty much all of them, but this one in particular just wouldn’t stick). Every time I heard it, I’d say, “I like this one. Who sings it?” And every time she’d roll her eyes as she’d groan for the umpteenth time, “Goo Goo Dolls”. It was ALWAYS Goo Goo Dolls. At some point during one of the 156 times I asked, I realized I don’t really have an ear for music.
So as Clifford played the Mark Arum Show for me, I just sat and enjoyed the commentary while I worked. The contest was basically out of sight out of mind, till I caught a few lyrics. I couldn’t believe I actually caught a few lyrics. We both kept listening. By the third song a miracle happened … I turned to Clifford and said, “That’s the Shins. It’s the Shins. I know it’s the Shins.” How in the world had my ears opened wherein I could actually discern a musical group from the last decade is beyond me, but that they did. And the only movie I could think of that featured the Shins in such a big way was Garden State. Thank you Zach Braff and Natalie Portman.
So I did what any person would do, I turned to my husband and said, “You have to call!”
“Hell no! I’m not calling.”
“Well I’m not calling. I’m not going to be on the radio.”
“You have to call. No one understands my accent.” And though there was some truth to that, there was no way I was going to call. Then Clifford suggested, “Call your sister. Have her call.”
Not a bad idea. She had just had a baby like three days before, so we figured she’d be up. You have to be when you have newborns, right? So I called her but she refused to call in.
Why was this such a big deal? I really don’t know. I mean I get it with my husband. He hates people. But I can’t explain it when it comes to me. Yes, I’m an extrovert. Yes, I can strike up a conversation with a stranger, but calling an Atlanta radio station to give an answer on live radio? I don’t think so.
But we wanted to win. I mean, who doesn’t want to be a winner? And I was pretty positive I had the right answer… suck it up, Libby, Just call. So I did.
We didn’t want radio interference, so Clifford took the radio upstairs while I called in. I was actually shaking. I don’t know why I was so nervous, but I was! I got the busy signal several times at first (flashbacks to U93), and then it rang. OMG.
I gave my name and location and I said, “Garden State.” I was the first person to call in with the correct answer and I was going to be forwarded to Mark Arum himself as soon as he was ready for the segment. I was assured I wouldn’t have to really say much. Just give the answer and he’d let me know for sure if I’d won.
Of course Clifford kept popping his head out of the bedroom laughing at me as I was taking deep breaths, preparing for my radio debut (U93 never actually took my request). The radio show was playing for me on my phone as I waited for my cue.
Then I heard the voice – Mark Arum’s voice. Was I supposed to say “Hi, Mark” or “I’m a huge fan”? I didn’t have to worry because he asked me for the movie right away, I threw out Garden State and he took a second while he checked to be sure I was right, and I was! He congratulated me as I shrieked into the phone. Then he told me I was going to see Boston in June, so I shrieked more. I thought maybe I’d get a few Braves tickets at best, but tickets to see Boston live in concert?!!! Uh-mazing!
Clifford came out of the bedroom laughing hysterically. He’d heard it all. I was jumping up and down uncontrollably screaming, “I’m a winner! I’m a winner! We’re going to see Boston in June!!!!” (Yes, I really screamed that out loud. Many times. Probably too many times.)
One of the highlights of my hectic week, it slapped a smile on my face and I’m still wearing it today. Calling in a radio show and winning a contest … another check off the old bucket list and another addition to my no-take-backs.
And just a quick shout out to an ATL radio host that had me at spy movies – The Mark Arum Show’s Movie Mondays (every Monday 10 PM to Midnight) on WSB 750 is totally worth listening to regardless of the contest. Check it out and see for yourself!
