Missing JR on His Birthday

One of the most important people in Fun 107's history would have celebrated a birthday this week. JR would have turned 68 years old.

Of course, I was thinking about him this week and wondered if he may have been retired right now if he were still alive.  I only wondered for a split second before laughing off the ridiculous notion. Of course he wouldn't have been retired. No way. He would have still been one of the hardest-working, most dedicated radio personalities in New England.

I can't tell you how many times I think of something that I want to share with JR. It happens all the time. More often than not, I want to ask him a question. I want to get advice from him, but the stinging reality is that I just can't. It's especially annoying when I know the question is one that he would have been able to help me with in a split second.

I'm also torn about my feelings toward Fun 107. In one way, it hurts me to see Fun 107 progressing without him around. Part of me wants to shout, "HEY! Fun 107 can't continue to grow! JR's not a part of this."

I know in my heart, though, that there's zero chance he'd want that. He'd want to see Fun 107 continue to adapt and change with the times.

When I brought up the fact that it was JR's birthday to me son, I was crushed when he said even though he knows who JR was, he can't remember what his voice sounded like. That was a blow. Thinking more about it, though, it makes sense. JR left the morning show when my son was only six years old. It's been seven years. It makes sense that his memory would be fuzzy.

When I played him this audio, though, he remembered his voice. I'll share it with you, as I shared it with him (audio courtesy of Larry Soares).