I’m a longtime supporter of public radio. Whether I’m tuned to the Sunday jazz show or the classical station during the week, there’s radio music blaring here most of the time. The parakeets love it, and I do, too.

Of course, there are those inevitable periods throughout the year when a fund drive takes place. In the past, I’d turn it off. I’m a member, so why listen to hours of cajoling, of hearing how for less than the price of a cup of coffee a day you can support your favorite station.

This year, though, things are different. This year, I’m listening to as much of the fund drive as I can. I don’t mind the pleading, the shilling of a compilation CD, or the announcement of a new tee shirt lego. This year it’s “Defunded but not Bach’ing Down.”

All the talk makes me feel part of a community, a community of the air, to be sure, but a community just the same.

With the abolishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the removal of already earmarked federal funds, I feel more protective of public radio, and more grateful for it. I’ll listen to as much of the fund drive as I can stand, though I won’t be listening much longer. It ends in less than an hour. Will the station make its goal? I hope so. It matters more than ever that they do.

(Photo: Courtesy WETA Classical, which did, by the way, meet its goal.)