Jamie Sue and I were on the road this morning, listening to oldies, and driving home in my favorite car after a Saturday night spent out of town.
Riders on the Storm by The Doors came on, and a flood of memories came in.
During my senior year of high school (1974) I managed our school’s radio station and most mornings hosted a radio show that was piped through the school’s speaker system in the hallways.
I always loved playing Riders on the Storm. The song’s introduction (minus the stormy sound effects) is 29 seconds. I mention this because as a DJ I had that exact amount of time to talk prior to the lyrics beginning. In the radio world we call this portion of a song “the walk-up.” So once the music began, I might say,
“Brian Sussman, WGBS, on a Friday morning. Weather forecast today calls for more rain and a high of 63 degrees. Better weather this weekend with sunny skies and temperatures getting into the seventies. Don’t forget the baseball games tomorrow at home against Deerfield. Go Glenbrook South Titans. Right now, this is The Doors. Riders on the Storm.”
As we were driving and listening, I was thinking, what if God, or maybe an angel, were to do a guest walk up to that song back in 1974?
“Stormy day today, but the future looks bright for your DJ. In a few months he’ll meet his beautiful future bride. They’ll get married in four years, have an awesome daughter and three solid sons, and eventually seven grandchildren. Brian and his wife will hear this song in 2025 while driving and he’ll be hit with a flood of memories and teary eyes as he reaches over to hold her hand. Now, The Doors.”
The point of the story?
No matter what life has dealt you, scan your memory’s horizon to find those moments that have made a difference, and give thanks to God. Life is so short.