I have no excuse, but I think I’m going nuts. I hope I am not going through “the change.” (Men can, you know, but I already did back in ‘97 and it wasn’t pretty.). I have been off track. I have been uptight. I have been edgy (verbally). I have been definsive. I have pushed many of the people I love and considered friends away. I need to change, and I think of the Michael Jackson song (Okay, Ghandi would be a better role model but I don’t know any of his songs) and the song “Man in the Mirror.” And, I am going to change starting with myself. I am going to suck it up and wise up and go back to being who I am. I felt I was I was going along so well, so loved, so well liked, so on track that I might have become somewhat big headed, then the doo doo hit the fan and I got not only into a bad place but reacted with fists up instead of head down and heart open. You, all of you, will see a change back to the old Jay starting this week. I find it is too hard, too draining too tiring and too against my true nature, to be offended or hurt or overly sensitive every second and to be looking for things to get upset and angry over, things to react to by saying: “You’re picking on me.” See, artists are very sensitive and I don’t even consider myself an artist, BUT I am overly sensitive and if I am of the creative nature and therefore an artist, this is even more magnified. So, what do I do? Do I act like MORE of a chooche, which is what I’ve been doing for a month now, or do I act like a man and a Christian and look at myself honestly and work to improve? I think I want to improve. I can’t remember when it started but I got an email criticizing what I was talking about on the air. ONE. Just one critical email, compared to 1o’s of positive emails, and numerous stops on the street by people saying “We want to know how you are?” “We want to know your health situation.” “We like to hear about Mrs Fidanza.” But, I was going too far and in the wrong direction. I was making it about me, and not about you. I was all over the place on the air and on facebook and had my facebook priveleges taken away by the station. THAT hurt because I thought I knew the boundaries of what they wanted from me (what management wanted that is) but I didn’t and went along my merry way until they decided I was out in leftfield (I’m a first baseman, so, you see I was way out of position). I was told to “crank” on my blg, so I did, but, obviously it was decided that I was TOO cranked here, too. So, now I will adjust myself and the expression of my opinions here, too. This doesn’t mean my opinions have changed. They’ll just go back inside unless I can express then in a vailed manner and thus give MYSELF a laugh. Okay, you have my word, I will reign it in, but I will still be Jay. Maybe just not as much so to your observance. I have no excuses other than I am on a lot of meds and I think if affects my over all personality. Seeing I DO have to take the pills to LIVE, I need to look at the big picture and decide how else I can handle this so I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, for you and for those who pay me to do.

As you have probably heard, the FC Fair Parade is re-routed this year because of the Stillwater Bridge maybe not being so “still over the water.”
Instead of coming down the hill on Main Street to Dunkin and turning onto River Street then up Laurel and into the rear of the Fairgrounds, the parade will veer off Main Street at the top of the hill across from the former Sweeney Ford, go down Colrain Street, thru the Solon Street lights and then to the former Wedgewood Gardens.
I am so honored to be the co-Grand Marshal with the much more derserving Bobby C. who does more for more people in this community than most anyone will every know
I have little to no right to be so honored but decided to share the experience with a ‘cross section’ of listeners. I feel the only reason I am being recognized by helping to kick off the parade, and thusly the Fair, is because of what you, this listeners, have allowed me to be. I am what I am because of you. The only reasaon I am “Jay Fidanza” is because of a great company like Saga, a great station like WHAI, awesome, understanding, lenient management like GM Dan Guin and Nick Danjer, great co-workers present and past and all of you because you listen to the show and like what I do, or don’t do and let me know it and have told me so either way, and mentioned that you feel like you know me and that I am a part of your “family” and life.
To express my gatitude to all of you, pro and con, I wanted to share the honor with a “cross section” of people who are regular listeners. I wanted people to ride with me in the lead vehicle. and it was a difficult decision coming up with who to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with but when it came down to it, God showed me, in no uncertain terms, those He thought would most enjoy it and appreciate it. Therefore Diane Harvey and her significant other Charlie Garbiel will be with me as will 9 year old loyal listner and Whiz Kids participant and dollface Gabby Martinez. Our driver is the unflappable Deb Hamilton wheeling her Jeep Wrangler down the steets of Greenfield. We’re all very excited. Me, more so, than if I were riding alone.
I look forward to seeing all of you along the parade route and hope the turnout will be the greatest ever, not because of my part in the parade but because it will present the opportunity for you to make contributions to the fund that WHAI has set up with 100% of proceeds going to aid the stricken families, homes and businesses of the west county, damaged and affected by Tropical Sorm Irene.