Losing (and finding) Our Identity

I remember the day I ran into Bill Mahoney when he was still North Central West Virginia’s longest running DJ.

Since I was a long time loyal listener he wanted me to know he was being replaced by a "satellite" DJ.

Rather than pay him more money the owner of the radio station decided to pay less for a "satellite" DJ broadcasting from anywhere USA.

"People don’t know the difference anyway," I was told by the former owner of the radio station.

Bill Mahoney was the only remaining local personality still on his station and it became more cost effective to replace him.

I replaced that radio station from my dial, and soon discovered the joys of the Dougger and Dr. Dan in the morning. For several years my son would go to Dougger dances on Friday nights at the YMCA.

I met my massage therapist through the Dougger as I won a free ½ hour massage one morning in one of a myriad of contests his station would run.

My last contact with Dougger was a phone call from him to ask me about the Vegetarian Cooking Class that my wife and I were having through West Virginia University Division of Extended Learning.

"Is this the Ian Rudick who is a long time listener who wins all the time on the radio?" he asked. "The very same one," I told him.

I appreciated his call and shortly before that I had won a WOBG T-shirt which ironically was the last prize I was to win from the Dougger on the radio.

Dougger would joke about how tight his radio station was; "I would love to have a WOBG t shirt, but they won’t give me one."

"I’ll give you mine," I told him when we were off the air.

I had developed a sense of loyalty to the Dougger.

Shortly after his call and my win, I turned on the radio to not my local DJ’s but satellite jocks from somewhere in radio space.

When they remained on the air for several days I called my local radio station to see what was up.

"We have had to eliminate our local DJ’s," I was told.

"This is very sad news," I told the station.

"Yes it is," they replied.

So I am left without my two favorite Clarksburg radio stations to listen to in the morning that at one time had Bill Mahoney and the Dougger and Dr. Dan.

I have yet to warm to the personalities of the satellite jocks who have replaced our local personalities.

Gone are the days of a caller notifying Dougger and Dr. Dan of an accident on I-79.

I can’t imagine the jocks from satelliteville calling to ask me about my cooking class.

My inexpensive Timex watch recently stopped ticking (it had taken a licking form my wrestling with my son).

I discovered there was one remaining local place for watch repair.

Most everyone else said it was not worth trying to repair the watch.

The watch repairman who had learned his trade from his father, tried valiantly to repair the watch but said it was not made to be repaired.

He reluctantly returned the watch to me unrepaired and for no charge.

I then proceeded to Wal Mart where I purchased another watch for under $10.

I admired this man’s service, but went for the "rock bottom prices" of Wal Mart.

As a small businessman I appreciate personal service and utilize service as a way to distinguish myself from my larger and impersonal competitors.

One customer of mine was amazed recently when I offered to give him my calling card number when he was away from home so that he could have a calling card to use when traveling.

The Telephone Company I was working with was not going to issue him a card before he left to travel the next day.

However, I also know that like me my customers look at the bottom line.

It is a pleasure when you find a local business that offers exceptional customer service and value such as MCM Business Systems.

Plus I know the owners are very involved in helping out in our community.

Yet my instinct is to run to Office Max whenever they have 3 cent copies sales, This week I didn’t.

I went to MCM for my 5-cent copies.

I am afraid that if I don’t show my appreciation and support for these businesses they will go the way of our local DJ’s.

The city is abuzz with the news of a possibly larger Lowe’s, 16-cinema complex, new restaurant chains, and a Pier One.

I find myself getting caught up in the buzz.

My wife says disdainfully (and she is right) that Clarksburg is becoming anytown USA.

We are losing our uniqueness.

I can remember my annoyance when Mr. Felts would shine his flashlight on me and ask me to put my feet off the seat in front of me as I was watching a movie at the Old Robinson Grande theatre.

It is hard to believe that that was almost twenty years ago today.

At the time I was taken back to the days of my youth at the Gables theatre in Merrick, New York when I suffered the same indignity (for only .35 cents).

"The more things change, the more they remain the same."

Today I am writing this piece on the day I listened to the speech my daughter wrote about my dad and how he dreamed of being a writer.

She delivered her speech in front of both of her parents and a gym full of 4th., and 5th., graders.

I found my ears tearing up in pride of both my daughter and my dad.

It is that link to the past, and the hope for the future that keeps me ticking, I can’t help it; I am a perpetual optimist.

I get it from my dad and my daughter.

Besides this weekend my daughter will be dancing at the Rose Garden theatre (formerly the Robinson Grande).

END