AM Radio

I’m driving back from Montgomery tonight. It’s been a long day.

It’s late. Very late.

The FM radio is fading in and out. I change the radio station over and over.

Some might say I make them a little nervous changing radio stations so much.

It’s necessary evil. When I find a good song after a few rounds through all the channels, I’ll stop on one. I promise.

Still static. Songs fading in and out. It’s bad reception on I-65 tonight.

“I wonder if there are any good old AM stations still on the air?” I thought. I haven’t had the radio on an AM channel in years. I switched over from FM and started changing channels.

My co-pilot was snoring away, so no worries of bothering anyone with my channel search.

After searching a little, I stop on a station that’s coming in clearly. I hear a familiar tune.

I smile.

It’s “The Happy Goodman Family” singing “Looking For A City.” One of my favorites!

I’m immediately taken back to my childhood. I can remember riding in the car with Mom and Dad, listening to the AM radio, fading in and out every time we drove under a power line. Mom and Dad sang along to the beautiful gospel sounds coming through the static filled speakers. They loved all the old country and gospel songs. So I learned to love them too. I did my best to sing along.

Miles and miles of songs.

And you should have heard Daddy singing along with Ray Charles to “It’s Crying Time Again.” That’s the version I’ll always remember.

Amplitude Modulation memories.

From the mind of me.