Listen to Swap 'n' Sell on KQMS 1400 in Redding, California

"Good morning, you're on Swap 'n' Sell." That's the friendly greeting you hear every Saturday morning KQMS, AM 1400. But before that, faithful listeners already know what's coming. The show kicks off with the whistled theme song that tells you it's a neighborhood show. Just the sound of it never fails to make me smile.

The hosts are Randie Meyer and Jordan Perry. Based on the rapport between Meyer and Perry, listeners have to assume the two are good friends. They're a natural pair that clicks with each other, and with us. Most Saturday mornings, before the show even starts, every phone line is already lit up, and many e-mails are waiting to be read.

What are they waiting for? All those callers and e-mailers have something they want to offer for sale, swap, give away or buy. It might be an RV, a totem pole, or a set of fine china. Or, it could be Henry. Any faithful Swap 'n' Seller knows Henry Miller. Week after week this older gentleman called and patiently asked for the same thing. Henry wanted some turtles, and he solemnly promised us he would not use them to make soup. Every Saturday when I'd hear Henry's request, I along with many others wondered how we could score some turtles for Henry. Somebody finally did get those turtles for him. Now, Henry's looking for a fish tank (not for the turtles) and some Hawaii 5-0 tapes.

The current Swap 'n' Sell show hasn't been on the air all that long, but not because we locals didn't want it. The show originated decades ago and aired every afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00. Back then, the hosts were Kathryn Nelson and Jerry McGee. McGee was one of the radio station owners at the time, and his crotchety voice was a familiar sound on KQMS. Later McGee hosted with another local celebrity, Ginny Chestnut. The phone lines were constantly jammed, by people waiting to swap or sell. Back then there was no e-mail, so those who couldn't call or didn't want to talk on the air sent in postcards for the hosts to read. In those days there were prohibitions against listing live animals or vehicles, but once in a while someone would slip in a no-no. Today, if you look on the Web site there is a list of prohibitions which includes "no people." To clarify they add, "So if you want to sell your deadbeat husband with his rambunctious dog and shotgun, we can't help you. Everything else is welcome!"

Swap 'n' Sell is more than just a radio show to my family. It's part of our history. The year my marriage broke up back in 1986, neither my ex-husband or I could afford to buy Christmas presents for our two-year old son. Then one afternoon I was driving when I heard a gentleman on Swap 'n' Sell announce that he had a yard full of old metal Tonka trucks that he'd sell cheap. I made a U-turn, and went straight to his house. I scoured the yard till I found the two best trucks he had, one was a firetruck with a ladder, and the other a tractor. They cost me a grand total of $4.50. I knew that my ex-husband, who worked as an auto body paint and repairman, could fix the trucks up and paint them, and together we could give our son a really great gift. Thanks to Swap 'n' Sell, that Christmas morning, our son was thrilled to find two shiny, like-new Tonka trucks under the tree, a joint-gift from his parents. Twenty-one years later, he still has them.

Later, I got his tricycle on Swap 'n' Sell, and again, my ex-husband fixed it up like new. On my budget, there was no other way to get one. I wrote up the story of our Tonka trucks a few years back, and it won first prize in a writing competition. It was published in an anthology called A Cup of Comfort for Christmas.

I'm willing to bet that there are hundreds of stories from those who listen to Swap 'n' Sell. If you have a personal Swap 'n' Sell story I'd love to hear it.

When the radio station was sold to Regent Broadcasting (sometime around 1998) the show was taken off the air. We were all disappointed. It was part of our lives, something we looked forward to each day. I continued to listen to KQMS through the years, and often heard callers on other programs ask why the station didn't bring back Swap 'n' Sell. Finally, someone listened. The show is back, every Saturday morning for an hour. Now callers are asking why the show can't be longer and management seems to be listening. By the time this article is published, Swap 'n' Sell may be bumped up to two hours.

Somewhere out there, some little kid is getting a birthday present that his or her parents couldn't otherwise afford. Recently, when a young girl had her bike stolen, her teacher went on the show to ask if someone had a girl's bike for sell so she could replace it. And an older gentleman who's greatest wish was for some turtles had his wish granted... though he still can't find those Hawaii 5-0 tapes. Those of us who hear it know... Swap 'n' Sell touches our lives, and we are lucky to have it.

Welcome back Swap 'n' Sell. We hope you stick around for a long, long time.