My Infidelity to NPR

So, last year I went from being a casual National Public Radio listener to an extreme enthusiast of such shows as "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor, "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" because I can't say no to a witty trivia show, and of course the affable Bostonians, Click and Clack, on "Car Talk" who solve automobile problems just by listening to people make weird car noises.

I don't just stop there, I love listening to local, national, and international news so when I listen to "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me" I can accurately guess the right answers or start somewhat intelligent conversation not having to do with People magazine. In general, I just like to listen to people talk and not have to talk back when I drive in the car. My long car rides to and from work can be lonely, but listening to "All Things Considered" or "Talk of the Nation," makes me feel like I have a companion riding in the passenger seat.

Recently while in the library, after trying to find another Jodi Picoult book that they never have, something new caught my eye. They were bright, shiny, colorful, and they were made for me, my car, and my listening pleasure. I touched my fingers against the plastic spines. They were books on CD and they looked mighty fun to have in my car.

I stood there gazing at the different titles mesmerized by all the books that I have yet to read--it's what I love most about the library--and here someone would do the reading for me! This would help immensely in my almighty task of reading every awesome book that anyone has ever recommended. But I thought of my old friend, NPR, and all the good times we have in the car together. Could I borrow a book on CD and still listen to the radio? I've never had 2 boyfriends at once, again, not by choice, but I think this would still have the same juggling effect. I would really have to manage my time and make sure not to miss the important parts of NPR, but also listen often enough to the book to keep up with the storyline. I was torn, but before I knew it, I was sliding the plastic casing under the automatic check-out laser.

The first book I selected in my CD affair was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I thought I might listen to this first part of the book and get bored or realize how overrated it was and come crawling back to my beloved radio. This wasn't the case. I had a new puppy love to the book and I couldn't get enough of it. There was no balancing of time; I devoted all of it to listening to this enrapturing book. The multiple characters, especially the protagonist, his grandmother and grandfather and their struggles with his father dying in the World Trade Center. I was laughing, crying, and thinking how much I loved books on CD. Did I love them more than "All Things Considered"? Hmm...I can tell you that I dropped NPR like a bad habit and didn't look back.

After finishing all 12 CD's, I told myself that I should take a break and get back into radio again. At least listen to the Saturday fun shows to remember why I really love tuning in. Instead, as soon as I dropped those CD's off, I was right back to the shelf like a fat kid to a cookie jar.

"Just one more...." I was dreamily thinking as I scanned the titles, "...oh, they have a Jodi Picoult book I haven't read yet. Let's see, Memoirs of a Geisha I've read before, but would I love it even more listening to it with a Japanese accent? Yes! I've found it. This is the perfect book to listen to in my car."

I grabbed Marley and Me from the shelf and couldn't wait to turn over the engine and place the first CD in the player. I honestly can tell you that listening to these books have made me a better and safer driver. How can that be? Wouldn't I be more distracted listening to the book? Absolutely not! I am more cautious not to pull out in front of cars if I can just listen a minute longer, I am relaxed in bumper-to-bumper traffic because it means more time with my new best friend, and I'm not against the euphoric state it puts me in. This could possibly be a cure to road rage.

I hate when guests come in my car and I'm forced to tune the radio to something with music; there's no way I can catch them up on my book and NPR is only for a particular type of person. Perhaps my books on CD have furthered me into an introverted state, but I can't say I don't like it.

I feel bad for dropping 91.5 for now, but I know this CD relationship won't last forever and I'll come crawling back on hands and knees on a Saturday morning like a cheatin' wife to her forgiving husband. For now, I think I'll enjoy this new found love and try to keep it a secret from my longtime companion, a prairie home companion, if you will.