Jamie and I have stayed home most of the time because of the snowstorms that occurred in December, as well as the first month of 2026. My idea for that was to focus on our eating habits and I’m not sure if that is really working.
This downtime has given us the time to reflect on the past and focus on the future more.
It is working out somewhat. I want so badly to downsize and have done some things already, but more is needed, as I have things in storage and have more items around here than I need to get rid of.
And, there is Jamie, who hates to part with some of his things and keeps adding to his “collections.” He has so many interests. If only he would get rid of the papers he writes on and no longer needs. That would take a load off of my mind and be a kind gesture for me.
I asked him to jot down some things that were highlights of his from last year, and, of course, he obliged.
Here is what he came up with: “What 2025 taught me was how to appreciate people, not things that are still in our lives. On May 9, 2025, I lost my uncle Ron just three days after his 78th birthday. Earlier in the year, we lost cousins Steve Waymire, Carol Byrd and Virginia Scanlon. Then, May came around and Rick Derringer, who sang Hulk Hogan’s theme song, “Real American,” died and then, ironically on July 24, the most shocking death happened when Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, passed away from a heart attack. Ron was the one who got me hooked on wrestling.“
Jamie went on to write that “We lost school teacher Ginger Sowry; actors Gil Gerald, Buck Rogers, Tristian Rogers, Anthony Geary and Leslie Charleson, to name a few. I also lost a classmate, Travis Henderson, and earlier in the year, his father, Gary Henderson, passed away.”
My son closed with this hint, “I hope that one day I will sing at karaoke again.”
I, too, lost relatives, former co-workers and friends in 2025, and I will enjoy keeping on hearing from more of them who are still around to enjoy this life.
One of the highlights from last year for me was when my co-workers at My County Link presented me with a plaque of which I was very appreciative. I feel guilty about slowing down on assignments. I’m just writing my weekly column for them, but maybe one day I will return if my health allows it.
Let’s hope 2026 is a great year. We will just have to accept whatever happens to us. Because we really have no choice.
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Jamie and I send our condolences to the family and friends of: Christoph Keller, Vickie Martin, Chad Rindler, Judith Briner, Susi Halley, Casey Macias, Charlotte Tedrow, Rowen Lacey and Andy Reier.
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Please pray for Evelyn Riffell Sebring, Jeff Sanders, Carol Good, Jim Short, Katie Cothran, Margaret Bonifield Middleton, Debbie Isaacs Miller, Melissa Anderson, Jim Short, Rick Beam, Kathy Stone Brewer, Carl Francis, Katrina Hoening, Rick Riffell, Vickie Martin, Jim and Amy Hanes, Tom Everhart, Fred Dakin, Carol Paul, Ted McCabe, Tracy Pratt, David Hiestand, Gary Knick, Kierra Reichert, Eddie Cline, Sharon Lapp, Terri Baker Buteau, Judy York, Roxie Thornhill, Sharon Miller, Allen Whittaker, Mike Hopkins, Don Rhoades, Dave Brewer, Clarence “Sam” Wilker, Chuck Cruze, Roan Brubaker, Vic Bothast, Tom Brewer, Todd Anderson, Dawn Dilworth, Carol Schuh, Gloria Hodge, Ralph Byrd, Jeff Brocious, Norma Kretschmar, Beth Davis, Terry Overbay, Terry “T.A.” Anthony, Katie Cothran, Lynne Bruner Hinshaw, Donn Thornhill, Carissa Rodriguez, Kevin Christman, Ivan Christian, Roger Fleckenstein, Bob Jackson, Penny Hopkins, Sherry Lawrence, Evelyn Manning, Kevin Schlechty, Darla Printz Whittaker, Sandy Partin, Sandy Gunckle, Tonya Kelly, Bob Christian, Linda Johnston, Terri Hunt, Patricia Maier, Dan Lockhart, Delores Beisner, Jodi Gilpin Snyder, Charlie Bulcher, Charlyee Severance, Justin Fritz, DeWayne Yohey, Katrina Hoening, Kara Didier, Don DeBord, Otis Stewart, Slug Midlam, Bob Peters, Judy Collins, Carol Hemmerich, Roberta Hall, Kelly Kelch, Mike Mayse, Nikole Baldridge, Mark Lovejoy, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Doug Whittington, Neal Gray, Randy Garrison, Kathy Gragorace, Donna Bixler, Cathy Melling and all others who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
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Happy Birthday:
Jan. 13 to Susan Butts, June Miller and Betsy Nisonger.
Jan. 14 to Christy Turner Smith, Sam Holsapple, Aaron Sebring, Scott Young and Larry Pierron.
Jan. 15 to Jane Faller Hole and Tyler Neal.
Jan. 16 to Jeanette Ida Noggle, Jim Grant, Dorothy Sanders, Jeff Byram, Nancy Linebaugh, Tisha Hodson and Shepherd and Brian Jones.
Jan. 17 to Jacob Whittaker, Karen Young, Joe Shumaker, Kevin Riffell, Tyler Hiestand, Wanda Burke, Anita Unrast and Lois Drew.
Jan. 18 to Ralph Byrd, Tom Moody, Jeff Wapelhorst and Tonya Francis Riffell.
Jan. 19 to Crystal Mead, Deb Crist, Kelly Mechhofer, Nicole Fenton and Jeff Minnich.
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Think about it: “The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they became by it.”– Author Unknown
