Empty House Syndrome … December 2, 2011

BY LORI GRASSO

The title might misguide you…  In the wake of Oprah’s and Regis’ departure, then along with Brian Mason’s from the radio waves after 30 years of The Brian Mason Show (of which I was a listener since his debut in 1979/80), I am reminded of another on-air departure that occurred December 15, 2010 that has affected me greatly – Gerry House and the House Foundation.

I miss them so much every morning when my radio alarm sounds off.  There is nothing on the air today to satisfy the emptiness I feel in Nashville’s morning air waves.  I love mornings, feel I’m pretty normal. I have a wonderful family, marriage, and daughter – so blessed.  But not a day has passed since that I haven’t longed for the morning team that started my day for so many years.  I think I’ve treated it a bit like the passing of a dear friend (which so many of us have sadly experienced) and I feel I’ve remained in a  phase of mourning since.

Gerry and his crew were an important part of my every Monday-Friday work week.  They lifted me up when I was down, made me laugh, made me cry, aggravated me – They were what best friends are made of.

I ran into Gerry a couple of times around town over the years (I promise these were random;  I am not a stalker).  The first was in my little town of Leiper’s Fork as he visited one of the shops, then again as I visited a cellular phone store in Maryland Farms–and just on the edge of Maryland Farms where Old Hickory was visible–a location where Gerry could be certain to find his way out!  (I always appreciated his joking that if you dare go into Maryland Farms, you’ll never find your way out!)

My history is long with the House Foundation. I remember I was in my early 20s when Gerry first left Nashville’s air waves for California.  Wasn’t it about the same time that Dan Miller left to join Pat Sajak on his late night talk show?  And it was a brief departure for both. They knew where they were appreciated most! (We all continue to remember and miss Dan Miller. His absence will be forever felt.)

I’ve kept up with Mike Bohan since his days on Channel 4, so when he joined Gerry, it was such a comfort in the wake of Paul Randall’s illness and passing.  I remember first hearing Duncan Stewart’s name when it was announced in the mid-80s that he’d taken residency upon a downtown billboard for the sake of UT Football! Then I became familiar with Al Voecks through his joining the show and always appreciated everything he offered from news to his opinion.

I had only begun to recover from saying good-bye to a portion of the House Foundation in December 2009 when Al Voecks and Duncan Stewart were released by the broadcasting company, when Gerry and Mike made their announcement they would retire their positions.  The core success of the House Foundation was precious and unique, unlikely to be duplicated.  And it wasn’t that they all agreed, or that they were happy with each other every moment. It was the fact that they were real; they were themselves.  They were true friends to each other and their friendships were the key to each day.

I always looked forward to the last show of each year when they would open their funny and sentimental Christmas presents to each other and share laughs about their treasures. The “Mr. Controversy Pants” that Duncan gave Gerry will always be an all-time favorite of mine.  So the moment Gerry and Mike Bohan signed off last December to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” I just treated it like all of their other Christmas shows – that they would be back after a brief vacation.  So for months, I’ve lived in a state called Denial (it’s such a lovely state).

Analysts recently identified the Empty Oprah Syndrome. It is what they expect many have suffered from with regard to Oprah’s departure.  I, on the other hand, suffer from Empty House Syndrome.  I laughingly told my husband Lenny  one morning, “I think I might need counseling, I can’t get over Gerry.”

And it’s not that I listened to every moment, or even every day.  But when I could, I did. My whole family did.  We grew to love them like friends and now we miss them terribly.  I expect there are others out there like me who struggle to find their way each morning without them.  So as we approach the year anniversary of their leaving Nashville’s air waves, I hope my words might have helped (me) to come to the closure needed to accept what is, and move on.  To Gerry, Mike, Al and Duncan: a belated, heartfelt thank you and many blessings to you and yours.

 Have an extended thought you’d like to share? Send to catherine.anderson@hillsnhamlets.com .