Alright, youve waited for it. Heres my dedication to Pat and AJ in long form. I didnt start listening to them by choice. They were forced upon me. When I started at Sherwin my manager was a big country fan. And so it was on the radio all day every day (I would find out later this was partly because we could only get reception for 3 radio stations in the building, 2 of them country.) At this time I still was dead set on hating country. Every shift was torturous upon my ears. Until I started working mornings and I started hearing Pat and AJ. In their rapport and hijinks I had a respite from the Luke Bryans and Carrie Underwoods as I schlepped box after box of paint products. The music was still torturous but I least I had breathers. It was later that I met a girl. A girl who LOVED country music and listened to Pat an AJ every morning without fail. As people do, I wanted to explore the interests of my new romantic target. And so I had more reason to listen to the morning madness. And I started to look into the people behind the microphone. I think it was at that point that I can say I truly became a fan of Pat and AJ. In Pat I had seemingly found a kindred spirit. Hes a chubby goofball with a flair for breaking into odd voices and making up random songs. Hes also a Chicago sports fan. We may not agree on the Bears but weve both pull for the White Sox and Blackhawks. If I had gone into radio instead of journalism in college its pretty likely that I would have become someone a lot like Pat. And what can one say about AJ? She certainly doesnt fit the face for radio stereotype. Shes gorgeous! And you can tell Pat knows it. The chubby weirdo with the gorgeous wife? Thats what we call inspirational. In many ways they were a mirror image of myself and that girl from the previous paragraph. Things didnt quite work out for us the way we might have planned but I still hat Pat and AJ doing it right. Oddly enough, that helped me get through some rough patches. And the combination of the girl and the DJs actually got me to soften my stance on country music. I can even say I enjoy some of it now. (Just not the Zac Brown Band. Sorry, Pat.) The both of them are a couple of the kindest, most generous, big-hearted people you could ever hope to meet. From the many, many charities they supported to the way they always make time for their fans to the way they way they are raising their son. As someone who has a younger brother with a disability I know its not always the easiest thing to deal with. But you do deal with it with love, patience, and understanding. Pat and AJ certainly do all of that and more. Now, granted I have never met Pat and/or AJ. And its entirely possible that I never will. But like so many other listeners in central Wisconsin and around the world thanks to the magic of the internet, I can say that the two of them have certainly touched my life and made not just my work days but my days in general more enjoyable. The idea of a married couple working together on radio isnt new. But its rarely done as well as these two. I wish them all the best and look forward to seeing them land on their feet somewhere new. Wherever they find listeners they will be loved and appreciated. Oh and clearly I chose this song to post this with because Pat and AJ clearly understand what the good stuff in life is.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:17:46 +0000