Well, listen, we all knew this day was  going to come. But that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. 

Hello, by the way. This is Andrew from TBTL. I hope this email finds you well. 

Last week, I used this newsletter to share the news that the TBTL billboard was still alive and well in Friendship, WI. The confirmation came from our intrepid reporter friend, Hariet, who included a photo as proof of life. 

I received another email from Hariet a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, the news this time was less celebratory:  

So, that’s that, I guess. End of an era. 

I will admit that a small part of me had fallen into some magical thinking that the sign might just stay up there in perpetuity. Maybe there wouldn’t be enough demand in the Adams-Friendship billboard marketplace for a new buyer. Maybe Lamar advertising would accidentally forget it was up there, the way American Public Media often forgot that they had a podcast called TBTL. Or maybe local protestors would handcuff themselves to the sign and demand its preservation.

But this is not dignified thinking, and I am embarrassed to cop to it. After all, if there’s one thing the billboard taught us, it’s that sometimes the most important things in life are temporary by their very nature, and to cling to the past is to sacrifice the present and the future.

And besides, thanks to the folks at the Adams County Historical Society, the billboard will live forever, in a way, now that it’s an officially designated historic site. 

You might be wondering what Hariet is talking about when she says she sang “The Billboard Song” on her way home. “The Billboard Song” is a ditty that Hariet learned as a child at camp, and she sang it for us when we walked her home on our last night in Friendship. It goes like this: 

As I was walking down the street
One dark and dreary day,
I came upon a billboard,
And much to my dismay,

The sign was torn and tattered
From the storm the night before.
The wind and rain had done its share
For this is what I saw:

Drink Coca Cola Cigarettes!
Chew Wrigley Spearmint Beer!
Ken-L-Ration dog food
Makes your wife's complexion clear!

Simonize your baby
With a Hershey's candy bar!
And Texaco's the beauty cream
That's used by all the stars!

So, take your next vacation
In a brand-new Frigidaire!
Learn to play the piano
In your Granny's underwear!

Doctors say that babies
Should smoke 'till they are three!
And people over 65
Should bathe in Lipton Tea!

So, with that song in our hearts, let’s head into the weekend determined not to mourn what we once had, but to make some new memories. I plan on doing my part right now by buying a huge can of Twisted Tea at SAARs Super Saver and wandering around the neighborhood, petting stray cats. 

I  hope you all have some great weekend plans, too. Luke and I will be back to our regular programming (and, I’m sure, a very long show) on Monday. Talk to you then! 

-- Andrew

Andrew: Box Elder by Surfer Blood

I had forgotten until recently that Surfer Blood recorded this cover of one of my favorite Pavement songs. Now it’s a regular jukebox go-to for me when I’m hanging out at local watering holes -- because the only thing aging barflies love more than obscure indie songs from the 90s is even more obscure bands covering them in the 2010s. Enjoy!

Listener Erica: Where Is My Mind? by ACCOLADE

Ahoy hoy! My guy has just released a new song! It's a cover of Pixies "Where Is My Mind". They did a fundraiser with perks to get their Halloween album done, and one of the perks was to get a cover of any song you choose done by the band! The donor chose "Where Is My Mind", so here it is!

What’s your name and where do you live? 
Stephanie Broad. Portland, OR, USA.

When did you start listening to TBTL? How did you find the show?
Oh man. I started listening (I think) around the “pink pen polite car” drama, but unfortunately I have no idea how or when I heard about the show. I have a podcast addiction and I am a digital hoarder (currently over 102,000 unlistened to episodes), so anytime I hear about a new podcast I add it to my podcatcher but don't necessarily start listening right away. I was trying to clear some things out and decided to try TBTL cause it had so many episodes so it would be a major win if I didn't like it, but I did, hahahah, and here we are! I used to listen to Pesca though, so that is my best guess.

How would your friends describe you?
Very literal (from one of my best friends yesterday). Socially awkward? Talks too much? Hopefully kind too, hahah.

What was your favorite cereal when you were a kid?Is it still your fav? 
Fruity pebbles. YES. It gets so weird in your mouth.

What food do you love to eat the most of?
Sushi!

What’s the best or worst nickname you ever had?
My only real nickname is Tepi. When I was a baby I couldn't say Stephanie so I said Tepani or something like that, and now my whole family calls me Tepi.

If you could play one song on TBTL, what would it be?
World's Not Gonna End by Josiah Johnson

What’s a special skill that you have?
I can speak Spanish and Italian, for the most part.

What’s a skill you *wish* you had?
Keeping a clean house.

If you were driving down the street and you saw Luke and Andrew on the sidewalk, what would you yell at them as you drove past?
I would probably just scream. In the "ahhhhhh" way. Or “hi”. I am not a creative or funny person.

Can other Tens find you on social media?
I’m on Instagram. And I have a booktube, which Andrew played some of many moons ago during my donor message. And I’m on Letterboxd.

Hey, it’s Andrew here again. Just a reminder that you can find ourTen of the Week form here! If you’ve never been a TOTW before  (or if it’s been a really, really long time) fill out our little questionnaire. And check out our Ten of the Week archive here!