Radio ... and Me - 8

On Boxing Day, 1979, I worked a total of ‘12 Hours on the Air.’
It all came about this way: I was working ‘supply shifts,’ Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight, at C-H-F-X, Halifax, playing Country music.
A few weeks before Christmas vacation, I heard that the regular all-night announcer was to take some extra vacation time with family on ‘The Rock,’ so there were some all-night shift openings. For many years, I had listened to all-night radio from time to time, and wondered what it would be like I to work the ‘magical’ all-night period, so I volunteered. The Boss agreed on my doing three shifts during that week.
This shift would be easier than my regular time: play lots of music, throw only a cursory glance at the '30% Canadian Content' regulations, almost no commercial traffic, didn’t have to play any of those dreaded, Seasons Greeting from the management and staff of (insert name of local plumbing supplies store)., read five-minute newscasts at midnight and 3 a.m., and ... I would even get to spin some of my ‘old’ Country favourites.
Oh, yes, he reminded me, I was also scheduled to do my regular 6-midnight Boxing Day shift.
As with all local stations on Christmas Day, we were playing ALL Christmas Music, then would cut to 50-per-cent on Boxing Day, then to only three per hour the next day.
So, at 11 p.m., thanks to the kind understanding and support of my bride of three months, I reported to the studio to begin at midnight.

All went well; I had so much music to play that the time raced by and I ‘finished on a high’ at 6 a.m.
Anybody can do this, right? Well, it was not quite as easy as it sounded. I tried to sleep during the day, but didn’t sleep well, and I then had to report for my regular 6-midnight shift.
It went okay, too, I suppose, but the disruption of my sleep and meal schedules would plague me for the remaing all-nighters later that week.
Looking back, I can say that I enjoyed the experiment, didn't want or need to repeat it, and gained tremendous respect for those workers who regularly do 12-hour or all-night shifts!