Just a thought… And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new & trust the magic of beginnings. [Meister Eckhart]

As always, you can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube (if there’s an ad there, thank Motown!).

I want to share with you a story or two about a guy – a pillar at CHFI – who’s leaving the only job he ever had, today. Okay, he did have another job: he drove the van for the Pickle Barrel in his teens until he took a corner too fast and a door flew open. Out sailed a brisket, or an entire leg of beef, or heck – who knows? – maybe the whole cow, and he kind of quit on the spot. But from there, he moved on to handling hams; so much better at that.

Today Ian ‘The General” MacArthur says good-bye, after 30 years of helming the CHFI Morning Show with me, Don Daynard, then Bob Magee, Jay and Billie, then me again, but with Mike Cooper…

…and Ian’s new-found little brother, our tech producer, the wonderful Gord Rennie…

Then the insanity of the past few years…and lovely Mo and Mike, of course, which brings us to today. Ian is sailing off into a new life of reWirement. No one will fill those big shoes, or strangely little chair….

That’s one Lauren had as a toddler, then we gave it to Ian and Anita and their three children…and the day after Lauren’s wedding, he delivered it back to her. Her son and his sister now use that chair in our home in BC. It means the world to us and, of course, so does our dear friend, her Uncle Ian.

If you subscribe to the CHFI newsletter, you’ll probably have seen a tribute to Ian from his daughter Ava. If you missed it, here’s a link.

I hope you hear or heard the show on 98.1 CHFI this morning. Rob and I put together a little something for the radio. Ian has a very special memory of a Breakfast on the Beach with Lionel Richie. Also, this weekend Ian takes off for three weeks in his native PEI and so, from one ocean to another, I send this love letter on the airwaves and the ocean waves to my friend. (Imagine the Commodores’ hit “Sail On” playing quietly.) 

Ian, I’ve had an awful time finding the words today – but I’m looking at the ocean and thinking of you.

I mean, how to sum up 30 years of closeness – a lifetime in many ways – and a friendship that grew into more like a brother and sister than I think either of us ever knew possible.

From perfect harmonies to sharing all of those mornings – the rawest, guffaw-est time of day together – before most of our world was even awake.

You gave many of us THE most memorable good-byes and I’ll never be able to dance you out, as you did me from Casa Loma, ending this radio career I’m not even sure was possible without you in my corner. ‘Cause you’re The General. If you were there, we were going to be okay.

But after 30 years of steering this flagship into the sunrise, you have earned smooth waters AND warm winds, knowing you were the best brother, producer and leader you could’ve been for our team (even with Beckham!).

Now get out there and rock your reWirement.

Do it on YOUR terms with love, laughter, and loads of loud music.

Sail on, my friend. And THANK YOU. Rob and I adore you, Ian – now go on and find your good time.