What the H E Double Hockey Sticks!

Ta Da! It’s been a slice, kiddies! For those of you who know me, and most of you don’t, this is the last column I’ll be submitting to The Times. LOML once said to me in the days leading up to his decision to retire, “I think a person should retire while they’re still enjoying the work they do.” And, here I am, still enjoying, but moving along. I’ve met a lot of interesting people along the way. Many of those people have written to me about their life experiences as compared to a column I wrote. Some people wrote to tell me I’d made them laugh. Others let me know I’d stirred up a lot of emotions by saying the things I felt I had to say. Not everyone agreed with everything I wrote, not by a long shot. A few people took exception to my point-ofview. One person couldn’t understand my take on Donald Trump and wanted me to hang up my laptop. A couple of women completely misunderstood what I had to say about funeral luncheons and I felt as if I might need protection from a lynch mob of crustless sandwich ladies wielding pots of tepid tea and Chock Full o’ Nuts coffee. And one woman, a “late” friend, wrote to the Editor calling for my head on a plate because I wrote about how some folks spoke of not wearing a mask and not taking precautions during the height of COVID- 19. I’ve had advice about paying taxes, going to the gym, having radiation treatments, how to grow tomatoes, getting rid of bats (I don’t get rid of bats, BTW) and replacing prescription medication with natural supplements.

I think in twenty years of writing for The Times I’ve probably droned on about just almost everything including an entire column devoted to contents of the ubiquitous junk drawer that everyone seems to have in their kitchen. Across those years both of my parents, my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law passed away. Several family members had life changing surgeries, one person was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia, a grandson exploded into this world a few months early and I was diagnosed with a brain tumour—which may explain the “me” you don’t really know. Through it all I got to know myself better and I learned more about all y’all. To say “it’s been a wild ride” would be an understatement.

Did I mention I’m all about calling it quits while I’m still enjoying the adventure? I’m sure I did and “Oh the adventures I have had.” I am fortunate to have been able to write about a lot of things. Additionally, during those years I’ve baked and served, taught and learned, painted and sketched, broken bones in cycling races, we raised thousands of dollars Heart and Stroke research (with your help), camped during torrential downpours, visited friends and family across this Country and “over there”. I’ve interviewed survivors, adventurers, donors and recipients. I’ve spoken out about my choices, your choices, their choices and of our freedom to make choices. I’ve yapped on about healthy, active lifestyles, about working out, getting healthy, supporting local farmers, urged you to patronize local wineries/distillers/cideries/breweries, eat in local restaurants and buy stuff from local retailers. Through it all, I’ve always felt it a privilege to dish-up my point-of-view to local readers—who, by the way, haven’t always believed me or agreed with me. Because of you folks I know, now, it’s okay to agree to disagree. And then?

Well, before I started recycling old columns, figured I’d thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of the laughs, the “hellos”, the column ideas, the words, the kindnesses, the patience, the smiles, the blessings, the empathy and the County way y’all wandered into my life and stole my heart.

What the H E Double Hockey Sticks. I mean to say, “Thanks all y’all” and see you in the funny papers.