Bill OBoyle: WARM memories will never fade
Jul. 9—Time to fire up the Way Back Machine again.
This week, the Friedman Jewish Community Center will host an event that can only be described as an opportunity for many of us to relive those good old days.
David Yonki, author of the "590 Forever" blog, told me last week that WARM Radio was a constant in a baby boomer's life.
"It got you through your first crush in grade school, entertained you in high school and as an adult was the first place you turned to for news, sports or weather," Yonki said. "WARM, the Mighty 590, was always there."
To celebrate the 65th birthday of the storied station, the Sidney and Pauline Friedman Jewish Community Center, along with WVIA Public media, will hold a free event on Thursday, July 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
To attend the free event, reservations can be made by accessing — WVIA.org/events — or by calling the JCC at 570-824-4646.
WARM at it peak had a share of over 50% of the audience. It brought Wilkes-Barre Scranton together as "WARMland" and everyone remembers that famous catchphrase — "It's only WARM for me."
Just about every radio owned by just about everybody under 25 back then was tuned to WARM.
And with the hazy, hot and humid weather we've been having lately, those of the older generations really do long for the days when it was only WARM for us.
I recall those sunny weekends when we would head out to Harveys Lake and Sandy Beach. We would bring our towels and transistor radios and everybody there was listening to WARM.
Yes, it was hot, but for kids, it was only WARM for us.
The heat never seemed to bother us back then. Our cars had no air conditioning — we just rolled the windows down or put the top down on our convertibles. The warm breeze was enough to cool us off.
At home, we had fans in the windows that circulated the air. Screen doors were mandatory. We never complained.
When we were kids, my pals and I lived for those sunny, hot days. We would play ball, hike, play games and then top it off with a swim before we went to our Little League game.
Our recent heat wave seems to be much more intolerable than I remember from my younger days. I recall heading to the Jersey shore almost every weekend to frolic in the sun and carouse at night.
These days, I say I love the beach — except for the sand and saltwater.
A few bad experiences have lessened my level of affection for the beach.
My dear friend, the late Marie Shevock, used to love when I would tell of my trip to Ocean City, Maryland, with her family. This was where I really lost my love for the seashore.
I decided to wade into the waves off the point there on what apparently was a day of rather high turbulence. After negotiating the waves for a bit, having them slam into me time and again, I got used to the ocean again. Actually, it was fun riding the waves.
And then those waves got really angry. One wave tossed me like a cork, down into the ocean's bottom. I recovered, but before I could clear my water-filled lungs, another one slammed me from behind. I went down to the ocean's floor again, this time with my head driven into the sand.
Just when I thought I may never figure out which way was up, I surfaced. I had sand in my bathing suit and seaweed in my mouth. One of my swim shoes was gone. And I had swallowed way too much saltwater.
At that very moment, my missing shoe washed up to shore. I gathered it up and tried to restore whatever dignity I had left as I searched for my towel.
My friends had witnessed this entire event. Some were in the ocean, others on the beach — all of them laughing hysterically. None of them realized, or cared, I had almost drowned.
I ignored them, got my towel, dried myself off and returned to the hotel where I showered and took a nap. I haven't re-entered the ocean since.
When I go to the shore now, I visit Wildwood — our old stomping grounds — and I head to Cape May for scallops at Mayer's — the best I've ever had.
But to be honest, I always preferred Sandy Beach at Harveys Lake over the Jersey shore.
Fresh water over salt water.
A half-hour drive over three hours.
Even at the shore, I preferred to hang out at the roof-top swimming pool at the motel rather than on the beach.
These days, I'd rather enjoy the great outdoors from inside my air-conditioned car or through the windows of my air-conditioned home.
Look, 90-plus degrees and high humidity just aren't for me.
The other night, a few friends and I went to "the Lake" to hear our friend's band. It was awesome — good crowd, delicious pizza and the music we all love.
We talked about the days when we first heard those songs and we remembered how back in the day we enjoyed the Lake, the Shore, the music and the Mighty 590 AM playing hit after hit.
All those memories will forever be WARM for us.
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Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
