Happy New Year, one and all! Let this be a glorious 2024!
Since I generally stay home on New Year’s Eve, it gives me time to reflect on the previous year, which wasn’t that bad.
I only wish I wouldn’t have had the back/hip/leg pain. I feel young mentally but not always physically. I am dealing with it as much as possible. Perhaps, one day, there will be a complete recovery.
One thing I was reflecting on this year were the writings I penned for My County Link and the messages I sent on Facebook.
Our family and friends were blessed in 2023 with some new babies and some weddings. Lots of people I know decided to retire this year, while others received commendations that deserved a congratulations. And there were more deaths than we had planned, but we never know when it’s our time to “go.”
First of all, I am honored to write the stories that I do. I have my favorites, of course, but they’re all enjoyable. There is generally a story in every person.
I was truly happy to write a “Where are they now?” The article was on Stacy Baker of Bradford.
Stacy was an active high school student and was preparing to attend the Ohio FFA Camp in Muskingum to serve as a camp counselor. A day or two before she was to leave, I interviewed her at her rural home near Bradford.
The story I wrote made front-page news when the car she was operating was involved in a one-car collision, resulting in her becoming a quadriplegic. I was in shock when I heard the news and, over the years, always wondered how life turned out for her.
I knew her family members but didn’t know their phone numbers, so I put off trying to reach out to them until this year when I was interviewing another Bradford resident, Gloria Shafer, in another article. In our conversation, Gloria mentioned Stacy’s name, and I immediately wanted to know how to get hold of her. I took that information and finally got in contact with Stacy (and voila), who was willing to do it.
So, that is how that article came about. I was so glad it transpired, and that Stacy is making things happen with what life has dealt her. But I’m not surprised because she was so active then and now in her job and church.
Thanks, Stacy, for doing this. You’ve made an impact on me both then and now.
Good luck in your future!
In closing my intro on this column, I am going to share some of the New Year’s messages that appeared this year and, some of which were sent online. I chose these because they were things I would have said if I’d thought about it:
* “To family and friends, may the year 2024 bring you love in the heart, health to your body, and peace and joy to your home.”
* “Always reach for the stars.”
* “May your cup overflow with peace, love, and pure awesomeness today.”
* “It takes a lot of courage to push through hard times. Never give up. Good things are coming your way.”
* “Going into 2024 with Sassitude.”
* “May you have laughter every day of the new year.”
* “2024 wishes for you: 12 months of happiness; 52 weeks of laughter; 365 days of success; 8,760 hours of good health; and 525,600 minutes of blessings and 31,536,000 seconds of joy.” (FYI, I think these numbers would be smaller because 2024 is Leap Year, I believe. But, you get my drift).
* “I’m not going to change myself to make people like me. I will be myself, and the right people will love the real me.”
* “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-day book. Write a good one.” (Brad Paisley)
* “2023 was a hard year. I fought many silent battles, wiped my own tears, and survived. Please, 2024 be easier.”
* “In 2024, I hope my family realizes that they are the best blessings God has ever given to me.”
* “May the tears you cried in 2023 water the seeds you’re planting in 2024.”
Aren’t those the greatest? Like I said, I didn’t author them, but I did share some of them with my readers, family, and friends.
Once again, have a great 2024!
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Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Diane Bickel, Larry Eley, Joann Freeman, Jack Runner, Barbara Splittsoesser Riegle, Scott Bingham, Gloria Snell, Betty Brewer, and Lucy Murphy.
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Please pray for these people: Kara Didier, Cindy Lovejoy, Carl Francis, Steve Didier, Janet and Troy Kammer, Bob Peters, Phyllis Brumbaugh, Sonny Custer, Betty Burnfield, Dan Lockhart, Roberta Hall, Pam Norman-Penticuff, Kelly Kelch, Mike Mayse, Greg Moody, Kelly Jo Eikenberry (kidney transplant) and son Allen (donor), Larry Linder, Steve Waymire, Jamie Knick, Nikole Baldridge, Chester Bryant, Lester Beisner, Delores Beisner, Kermit Foureman, Chuck “C.W.” Cruze, Mark Lovejoy.
Also, Judy York, Donald Booker, Dennis Leeper, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Ralph Byrd, Doug Winger, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Gary Francis, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, D’Arleen Waymire, Zach Urbancic, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Carol Hemmerich, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Judie Hathaway, Randy Garrison, Jannie Barrow, Kathy Gragorace, Becky Everhart, Donna Bixler, Linda Subler, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all of those who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
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Happy birthday:
Jan. 5 to Amina Cocherl, Wayne Harbison, Jesse DeMange, Tyler Kress, Arlene Harris, Travis Thwaits, Kathy Burke and Arleen Harris.
Jan. 6 to Preston H0lton Matt Leeper, Judy Gibson, Chris Printz, Andrew Waymire, Mike Erwin, Arnold Riffell, Michelle Sparks Reed, Patches Trevino, Cody Partin, Betsy Cook New and Carie Ann Shroyer.
Jan. 7 to Wendy Sebring Meek, Kathy Cline, Nick Mayo, Chad Beam, Terri Livesay, Chuck “C.W.” Cruze, Kayla Scarberry, Doug Winger and Barry Bowers.
Jan. 8 to Julia Easterling, Doug Wentworth, Toni Sink, and Chris Brewer.
Jan. 9 to Dwight Leeper, Scott Warren, Larry Vititoe, Tommy Renfro, Deb Guthrie, Cheryl Ganger, and Randy Blosser.
Jan. 10 to Russell Clark, Kim Campbell, Jeff Albritton, Karen Nealeigh, Elaine Rismiller, Carol Hawkins, Shelly Miller, Marcia Welch Shiffler, Nikki Nealeigh and Ginny Reese,
Jan. 11 to Craig Scanlon, Deanna York, Bryant Fox, Chris Eby, and Donald Mong.
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