my middle sister and i hatched a plan to get on the radio
when we heard about a fund raising radio-thon.
anyone who called in with a year-long pledge
would hear their names on the radio as a thank you.
as soon as our mom went upstairs
we dialed up the station on our kitchen phone
excitedly pledging to send 2 dollars a month for a whole year.
within the hour, we heard our names announced
we were so proud and cheering for ourselves
until all the noise caused our mom to come downstairs
asking what we were celebrating
as she quickly reminded us once again
that we were young kids with no income
(other than what we made from our other schemes)
and there was no way we could actually pay them a cent.
how quickly our fame turned to shame
how fearful we were
thinking the radio station
would send someone right over to our door to collect.
though they might not have found us
as we were soon busy doing hard time in our room.
—
‘fame is a fickle food upon a shifting plate.’
-emily dickinson
—
image credit: eBay
she’s my transistor sister
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that’s it!
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If your two bucks was going to make it break that radio station they were in big trouble already.
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i agree! )
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So cute! Such sweet memories
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they were fun, we just never, ever stopped to consider any consequences. it’s become clear as i continue to write this series )
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So funny, Beth. 🙂
Too bad you didn’t have this show. We used to listen to it with our kids, and one time our older daughter called in and won a prize. I think she answered a question correctly. http://kidscorner.org/
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I would have loved that!
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I have a feeling somebody in your family paid for that one, Beth.
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I hope so!
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I am SO thoroughly enjoying this series!!!! I am SO glad you were (are) so imaginative. Who knew your childhood hijinks would be such joy for us now!
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Thanks so much, it’s fun to retell them as an adult))
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You are doing a GREAT job of it !
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lol….thats a great story and that photo brings back lots of memories.
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I’ll bet!) thanks-
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I had a radio like that once upon a time….
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One of my favorite possessions at the time
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LOL. It sounded so good for a minute or two!
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I know!!)
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The creativity and generosity of children knows no bounds.
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this is very true. unrestrained by conventions or consequences.
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It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a little transistor radio like that. I had one in the 1960s.
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i loved mine!
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lily tomlin told a similar tale to dick cavett a couple nights ago about ordering junk C.O.D. and her mom answered the door and owed 12 bucks and little lily had to start earning babysitting money until she could pay her mom back and start playing with whatever crap she had ordered? such as sea monkeys?
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i totally get this. and sea monkeys were one thing i ordered, too )
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let us start the sea monkey club…my older sister thought I looked like a sea monkey because she was big-breasted and I have a flat chest and big hips…so she called me sea monkey…ah, sisterly love! can I be the president IF we start the club and c.o.d. to our life’s content? because I am a sea monkey in the flesh!
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absolutely, you are president and i would like to be the sea monkey wrangler.
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done deal…abba dabba dabba! we shall rule!
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Evil and sweet intentions.. you are indeed women. ;p
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💃🏿
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Uh huh… just as I thought 🙂
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Awww… I remember the feeling of wanting to be on the radio or having my name on there. I would call to request songs all the time hoping they would say, “This one is requested by Heather……”
Good thing the radio police didn’t catch you and your sister.
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awww. and yes, good thing. or this would be a post from prison )
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