To my fellow Lounge Lizards in Exile, my name is Bob Decina and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. Some of you already know me, some recognize my name from a shout out or two when I check in at MITM, but most of you are meeting me for the first time. I have been a proud LLiE since the day Brad switched his Martini in the Morning show from terrestrial radio on KLAC to its current internet version. Brad has graciously granted me the opportunity to tell you about a life changing event that is occurring to one of our fellow LLiEs and the role MITM has, and is, playing in it.
Brad and I have spoken numerous times over the past years on exactly what role radio plays in our lives. Most people would say that the music is the main reason they listen to the radio. Of course they would be right. Music though is only one element in this complex medium. Radio is also used to understand the world, our communities and as a tool to interact with other people with a similar ilk on life. When listening to a song on a CD or any other electronic device, one is listening to that song alone. When listening on the radio, you are sharing that experience with countless others, intensifying the moment. It’s about being together with friends, and with MITM being on the web, those friendships stretch not only across state lines but international lines. Brad has always encouraged his listeners to get to know each other via the MITM chat lounge. Share information, get involved, not only with the station but with each other, I am so very glad I took his advice.
Al & Daryl DiStefano
The first version of the MITM website, included a list of all LLiEs in alphabetical order and with an accompanying photograph. My name appeared directly over that of Daryl DiStefano. I took Brad’s advice and snuck into the chat room one day as an anonymous browser. I discovered that Daryl was a moderator there. If you are a chat room regular you probably know her as Buble1. I opened an account and began to develop friendships with a variety of people. Daryl and I hit it off more than others. We conversed privately about such topics as our love of standards music, our families, travel histories and other non-music related topics. After almost a year of chatting I told her I was coming out to Los Angeles for a golfing trip. We agreed to meet in person. A fellow golfer and I met Daryl for dinner in Hermosa Beach. After about three hours of having a wonderful time together Daryl insisted that during my trip I had to meet her husband Al. She saw something in my personality that would bond well with Al’s. She was sure a friendship would develop. She was right. Al and I hit it off as if we were brothers. In our ten years of friendship, Al, Daryl and I have traveled together to golf tournaments in Carmel, race tracks in L.A., Del Mar, Phoenix and Chicago. Spring training baseball games in Arizona, Dodgers and White Sox games, and family outings on both coasts. Al and Daryl have met my children and grandchildren and I theirs. We have had outings to museums, naval facilities and popular restaurants. Sometimes we would just stay in and debate, or rather argue, politics of course. Midwest values versus West Coast philosophies do produce disagreements you know. As Frank would sing, every year was “A Very Good Year”.
Why am I writing this now? Just recently, Al was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He has already began his radiation treatment to shrink the tumors involved with it and then it’s on to chemotherapy to eradicate the cancer itself. They have a long road ahead them. They are not alone. They have the support of their immediate family, their friends and a community of like-minded individuals who they met via an internet radio station. There are no words to express how I feel about being able to call Al and Daryl my friends. Ten years ago Brad told me peek into a chat room that he said would be fun and beneficial. Oh how right he was.
Bob Decina
LLiE