Gonzo Girl

“So, how was it?” Rick asked as I walked in the door.

“Well, I met almost as many dogs as I did people”, I answered smiling. “I think it will be a good fit. I mean, it’s kinda quirky. In a good way.”

Absolutely quirky. And fast paced and unexpected. In a matter of three hours I had met five DJ’s, two musicians, a web designer, and the President of the board. Add in four dogs and you’ve got an environment bordering on chaos. Amidst the the comings and goings of all these people and animals, the Executive Director had managed to pick up a cake at Safeway (she was disappointed with the lettering) for a surprise mini-birthday celebration.

Oh, and, did I mention the champagne? 

But somehow it wasn’t chaos. Each person was doing their precise job reminding me of the intricate parts in a handcrafted Swiss watch. 

And while the complicated mechanism of a radio station was buzzing in the background, a much more subtle vibe prevailed.  

The dogs should have been my first clue. Kind of like a humanity litmus test, you’d be hard pressed to find a mean human that brings their dog to work. Dogs seem to be a very good sign that the people behind them will be nice, if not compassionate.  

Take for example, the aging DJ with dementia. Arriving with his wife (and their dog), a staff member spends well over an hour helping him pre-record his show. The staff have only good things to say about this man. They are happy to help him stay on the air as long as possible.

Everyone wins.  

Twice I witnessed the Office Manager take a phone call from community members asking about happenings in our area. Both times, these events were not on the radio’s community calendar meaning that we did not have the information. But instead of saying that, she said she would call them back with the information. Then, she got on the internet, researched all the details that the person wanted, and called them back with said information. Dang. Pretty nice sleuthing to help the folks on the other end of the line.

Just because.

And as for my welcome as a new volunteer. I felt like I was the star recruit on an NFL team. “Thank you so much for volunteering! You don’t know how much we appreciate someone at the front desk. Let us know if you need anything!”  Wow.  Pretty heady stuff.  

I don’t want to break it to them. At age 63, I have less experience in this arena than a 5 year old. Having never set foot in a radio station until my interview a few weeks ago, my “transferable” skills are limited. My career was mostly spent with people under the age of 10. I’m expert in facilitating a friendship group and can play a mean game of Sorry. And don’t even think about running in the hallway. I’ve got chops in an elementary school setting.  

Radio stations? Not so much.

Thankfully,  I do have one qualification that seems to be the right fit for this new gig.

I love dogs.