Craig Allen’s Radio Thanksgiving Stories

On this day, we pause and give "thanks." And then we eat as if it is going out of style (read: "Turkey Coma").

I give thanks for my family and friends...and I'm thankful that I'm still in the business that I love...even though, sometimes, it makes holidays...difficult.

A year (or two) ago, I wrote about Thanksgiving, the early years...jumping in the station wagon and driving halfway across the universe, to have Thanksgiving with my aunt and uncle in Philadelphia.

In my college years, I would hop on the bus, and ride from Madison (the University of Wisconsin) to Milwaukee, or to Kenosha...

YES, the Kenosha that has been in the news...

...to spend the day with one set of grandparents, or the other.

Then, in a turkey coma, I'd get back on the bus, so that I could be on the radio back in Madison early on Friday morning. Say, 6 am.  Fun, right? Hey...anything for radio.

From the mid-1980s (in news) to the early 1990s (doing music shows), Thanksgiving was at least a working "half-day." Often, I'd have a show for an hour or two, and then I would engineer a local high school football rivalry, from back in my studio.  With my sports knowledge, you wouldn't want me "calling" the game...trust me.

Starting in 1992, I was jumping in my car and "commuting" to do radio in the city where I had spent "Turkey Day" in my youth: Philadelphia.

Usually, I was done by 3 pm and could rush back to Jersey for a family dinner, with all the trimmings.

But, not always.

In 1996, I was doing overnights in Philly. I had enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner here in Jersey. Then the "turkey coma" kicks in, which helps me take the short nap that I need before working all night. All according to plan. So far.

While I was napping, it had started to rain lightly. An hour or two later, when my alarm clock woke me with a jolt, I found the roads to be a sheet of ice. I called my boss...and he told me to be safe...not to drive the 70 miles to the station. Just by luck, this shift (technically Friday morning) lined up with the one weekend a month when I had Saturday off. Wow...a three-day weekend.

And...I was thankful.

It's 1998, and I'm doing the 3-7 pm shift on Thanksgiving. There's no way I can be back in Jersey to have a meal with the family. UGH.

At 6:45, my relief walks in...saying: "Damn...I'm sorry Craig."

Seeing the confused look on my face, he says: "I had a BIG plate of turkey dinner for you...but I left it on the kitchen table."

I thanked him for thinking of me...all the while thinking to myself that I would have been happier not knowing.

I went back to my dark, empty suburban Philly apartment, and gave thanks for my frozen Thanksgiving pizza.

In my early years here at New Jersey 101.5, I would host the all-night show(s) Wednesday night, right through the holiday weekend...work, sleep, eat, sleep, work. Get the picture?

My first Thanksgiving at "the big radio ranch," (2002) was (unexpectedly) joyous. I went on at 11 pm on Wednesday night (my second NJ101.5 show, ever)...and when the sun came up on Thanksgiving morning, I saw Bob Williams and Jill Myra for the first time in years. Now, I felt totally at home, surrounded by friends, at my new radio home.

Flash forward. It's Thanksgiving 2012, and I draw the short straw. So, I'm working from 7 until midnight on Thanksgiving.

Alone again, naturally (sounds like a '70s song).

At around 7:30, the studio door bursts open.

Eric Scott walks in with a big smile on his face, carrying a plate of turkey and all the trimmings...for me.

And, I am thankful.

Phone calls to the radio studio and notes like this on social media...

"I understand that you are working...have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!"

...would always make it easier to work on Turkey Day.

This year, I have the day off.

The turkey is in the oven.  The big family Thanksgiving dinner is set for around 6:00.

I hope that you will take a few moments to give thanks today for what you have.

And, remember the people, the places, and the good times that have come in years gone by.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Oh yeah...and, if you can't get together with family, and you don't want to give thanks with a frozen pizza, there are lots of diners serving up turkey and all the trimmings: