…….and the reason is because they can’t. No, I’m not talking about his immediate family or even his close friends. Heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, children, family, and personal friends. I refer to his extended family, though – the ones who listened to him daily and had invited him into their lives on a regular basis. Those folks are hurting too.
I started listening to the NASCAR Channel on a regular basis over two years ago. In fact, I have written several articles about how much I enjoyed the shows and the personalities on them. They have made me laugh often. Occasionally, they have challenged long-held beliefs. Mostly, though, they have shared opinions and values that are in line with my own. The two shows I listen to most often are The Morning Drive and Sirius Speedway.
For over two years, I have invited these folks into my life daily during my commute to and from work. A lot of other people have too. Think about it. For over two years, since The NASCAR Channel started, commuting listeners have spent more time with Marty, David, Mike, Moody, Suzy Q, and the rest of the characters than they do with many members of their own families. That is just the commuters. Many more are able to tune in all day long, some of them even tune in around-the-clock. Just think about the truckers out there. Believe me, many of us listen in and the personalities on these shows do become integral parts of our lives.
For two days now, I, like many others, have been walking around in a daze. David Poole died and left an empty spot in our lives. We are in mourning and, primarily, the only ones we have to share this feeling with are the other radio personalities and fellow listeners. FaceBook has probably been overwhelmed. My wife and my son can’t empathize with me because they don’t listen to these shows daily and haven’t developed the dependence and/or relationship these shows foster.
The most cathartic thing for me so far has been listening to how others cared about David and how he impacted their lives. Mike Bagley has been terrific through this difficult time. How he got on the air and did a show the next morning, I’ll never know. God had to bless him with the strength. Dave Moody and Suzy Armstrong have been very helpful too. The empathy and concern they have shown blows me away.
I guess what I am trying to say is that David Poole was like a family member to many people. He has died and left a vacuum in their lives. These people, in most cases, were not a part of David’s immediate family or friends and have no one to share their grief with other than the “Sirius NASCAR Family”. I, for one, appreciate that family. Keep up the good work guys. Even though we will not be able to attend the funeral, you and David’s real family and friends will remain in our thoughts and prayers.
