A Compelling Radio Show Question

The interstate linking my lake life in Michiana to family members residing in Chicago’s western suburbs is not sympathetic to inexperienced drivers. Winter ushers in black ice and white out conditions while summer construction twists travel times and neck muscles into appalling miseries.

Today as I cruise westward, battling lane closures and a cavalcade of semi-trucks, a black beater pickup kisses my bumper. I give this menace the left lane and hope that one of the squad cars disguised in a mustang issues him a hefty ticket.  Because of all the road theatrics, I catch the tail end of a country radio interview with an “up and coming” female artist.

The radio host chuckles. “So that’s your ‘one thing’?”

“Yep, that’s it!” she says. 

Argh, I feel cheated.

What was the question I missed while the black truck rocketed past me?

I scoot around in the bucket seat, loosen the shoulder strap of the seat belt, and turn up the radio dial as if more volume will solve the mystery.

“What was the singer’s one thing? C’mon repeat it, don’t leave me hanging,” I plead aloud to the radio dial.

The radio station breaks to commercials, and I tinker with the nature of the question.  One thing, one thing…

If I was home alone and only had enough time to grab ‘one thing’ from my burning home, I’d charge to my second-floor office and grab my MacBook Pro. My jewelry, favorite paintings and stacks of family photo albums would have to wait for the firemen. I’d look longingly at those treasures as I coughed and scrambled my way to safety.

If that was the right question: name the one thing you’d grab if your house was on fire, what had the young vocalist replied?

In seconds, I pass the black beater parked on the left shoulder, blue flashing lights breathing down his neck. A smirk replaces the frown on my face, and my mind ping pongs back to the question of the one thing. I tinker with it some more. In case of a fire, I suspect the singer would’ve plucked her guitar case, precious music stashed inside, and then she would have dashed to fresher air.

Lowering the radio volume, I let one commercial float into another as a new challenger closes in on my Tahoe’s shiny rear end. As before, I yield to the interloper. I play with another variation on the original query: What is the ‘one thing’ you’d do differently in your career?

I muse about the plucky singer’s possible responses: I’d have moved to Nashville five years earlier; or I wish I’d learned to play the ukulele; or I should’ve left the band sooner to pursue my solo career. As the next commercial rambles on, I consider what I might have done differently in my own career. My elbow rests on the window ledge, left hand forming a warm teepee against my cheek. Twenty some years ago, I shut down a successful computer education business to start a family. Four children later, my later-in-life second career involves inking weekly blogs, a monthly column, and crafting a second memoir.

What is the ‘one thing’ I would have done differently?

I consider this. As a stay-at-home mom, instead of rising to community-volunteer-elite status, I might have enrolled in writing courses sooner than I did. I might have chased down my reluctant birth parents before a breast biopsy forced the issue. I ponder these what-ifs as another predator sneaks up behind me, darts into an opening in the left lane and disappears. 

Having no interest in the radio ads, I gape at an impressive oncoming traffic delay. Another cop issuing another ticket, this time to a white SUV with Tennessee plates. Driving within the speed limits is one thing I’ve done right today. 

The radio host’s smooth baritone reclaims the airwaves. I raise the radio’s volume.

“Thanks for listening today. We’re winding down.  Here’s the recap of our “Up and Coming News Artist” segment. I’ve been chatting with Susie Snowflake. In a few seconds she will sing her hit single for you in our studio.  If you tuned in late, I asked Susie earlier about the one thing she’d still like to tackle in her music career. Performing with Reba at the Grand Ole Opry is her dream…”

Well, I blew that one. Merging right to nail my exit, I ponder the question:

What is the one thing I’d still like to tackle in life?

Excitement fills my belly as a myriad of thoughts ping pong around in my head. Write a novel once my second memoir is finished later this year? Book that Covid-cancelled trip to Cuba? Commit to that all women’s writer’s retreat in Santa Fe?

What is the one thing you still want to tackle in your life? Share your thoughts here.

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