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Judy ireland's avatar

In the early 80's I took my three teenage children and a couple of their friend shopping close before Christmas, told them to be back where I left them off in two hours or something awful was going to happen. They all agreed, but none of them appeared at the appointed time. After half an hour, I panicked, was sure they'd all been kidnapped. They showed up an hour late, when I was a mess of gratitude and fury. We got in the car, I turned on the radio which was tuned to their horrible music, and, in spite of their protests, I turned the station to NPR. That's where I first met you. You told a Christmas story about the Magandance family welcoming their infant adoptive daughter, which was so moving that it melted my anger toward my own children. Ever since then, my husband and I have been committed fans of yours. I have listened for a rerun of that story, but never heard it again. Thank you for that, and for so many other wonderful Saturday evenings dancing and listening, mesmerized, in the kitchen. Our most often comment was, "Man's a genius!"

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WanderingSioux's avatar

I love it when you write about your daughter! To me, the two of you are "father/daughter love" personified. I remember one evening out west, when APHC was on a road tour. It was an open-air arena, and you were wandering around the edges of the crowd, singing. The spotlight followed you, the tall man in white. I happened to turn and look at the stage as you passed close by. Your daughter was standing there, right out front by the footlights. Her eyes were following you, adoringly. It was as if you were the sun, and she was Venus - a tightly circling planet! By the time American children are teenagers, so many times the young folks "Have Issues." To see a child that is so overflowing with love for their parent is heartwarming!

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