CBC Radio junkies like me know that Andy Barrie has been off the air for several months while his wife, Mary, was battling cancer. Sadly, she passed away February 18th, and now Andy is set to return to the helm of Metro Morning, on Monday morning.

Andy was the first Toronto media personality I connected with when I arrived here and he remains my favourite. Jane Hawtin has more than capably filled Andy's seat, and the silver lining of Andy's hiatus has been the opportunity for Matt Galloway to show off in the morning drive for a few weeks and for Kevin Sylvester to get more prominent fill-in opportunities, mostly on Here and Now in the afternoon.

But I find myself wanting to set the alarm for 5:45 Monday morning to hear Andy's return to the mic.

Andy is something of a Toronto icon, so his lengthy departure was sure to get noticed. But I've often thought he had one of the best gigs around, typically working the host's chair only Monday-Thursday and he often was able to take extended breaks. Although in some cases I've wondered if it was illness and not just a getaway to his farm up north, those departures rarely lasted more than a few weeks.

I had heard through the grapevine around the time Andy went off the air that his wife was ill, and I was very much saddened. Mary had just retired from the University of Toronto and I'm sure the couple were looking forward to the coming years. But I've also found that while certainly life - and radio - has gone on, I've missed Andy's voice in the mix. His way of interviewing, and his analysis of the news, I've come to appreciate and value.

Welcome back, Andy.

Photo by photojunkie.