2017 was a year of transition. Our former Program Director took a new job, and all of sudden, I was asked to be “the boss.” I had to get used to conference calls, having the answers, making sure we had cool contesting and good music, all while still BEING on the on air with you! I never had so many emotions running through me in my life, and I hadn’t cried so much since my dad passed away in 2011.
In between all of the work and responsibility, I did manage to squeeze in a bit of fun. I went to LA twice, went to New Orleans, saw a bunch of shows, and spent some good times with family and friends.
If you have Instagram, you probably did your “Best 9 of 2017” When mine showed up, I noticed I was wearing my glasses in every picture, and grinning from ear to ear. I stared at each picture and started to remember where and when they were taken, and the emotions and events leading up to capturing them.
For example, the photo of me with Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters took place after a monsoon of rain on a cold, April day. Before I left work, I interviewed Chris, had a conference call to take care of, and our studio computer crashed! Then, my friend Elise and I drove on the Turnpike, trucks passing us, rain pounding the windshield, and when we came out of the Holland Tunnel on the NY side, the sun was shining brightly and the sky was a beautiful blue! I remember seeing that and thinking to myself “What a metaphor for my life right now! Leave the troubles behind and enjoy yourself for a few hours!” And, enjoy ourselves we did. Found a place to have a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich paired with wine, and then, went to see the show and met Chris. A night I’ll never forget, and as you can see by my big smile, it made me so happy.
The other pictures are just as meaningful–hanging with my friend Jen at a concert, seeing Coldplay with Elise, hanging with Ozzy’s bass player, Blasko, making goofy faces before a show, and being “photo bombed” by Dave Grohl at Cal Jam in LA! Oh, and of course, at the center of it all is my boy, Rock Star Cat, Cornell (and celebrating his birthday with our night host, Brett Radler) and being invited by Disciples of Babylon to their CD release party in LA (the photo of the Marquee!)
Which brings me to my New Year’s Resolution of “stress less, smile more.” I am going to make every effort to live in the moment, absorb everything around me, enjoy the good times more, and stop worrying about what I can’t control! These 9 pictures made me realize there’s more good people around me than bad, and there’s more good times ahead, too.
Oh, and my other resolution is to actually take a picture WITH Dave Grohl next time…so, 2018…BRING IT ON…I’m ready to smile again and again (and meet Dave!)
Debbie’s a Maniacal Music Lover, Met fan, Animal Advocate, and Cosmo drinker!