With some time on my hands recently, I’ve had the opportunity to revisit my past, and if I had it to do all over again, I would, with just a few changes here and there but not many.
Looking back, I cannot complain about the life I was given. If things were good, that was great; if not, I paid the price and lived life anyway.
Nothing can compare with the times I’ve had with hundreds of friends (maybe more). I just wish time had not flown by so fast and that my body wasn’t showing as much wear and tear, but hopefully the latter can be fixed.
I am glad of the community I was raised in, the students I went to school with and the classmates with whom I graduated. I would do it all over again.
I think I got my work ethic from my father. He worked hard for us. And, Mom did too at home.
In addition to babysitting my very first job was in a factory, which was not my forte but I worked until I got laid off, after which I went to work in a restaurant in Greenville because I wanted to keep busy. And, that led me to my first newspaper job where I remained for 50 years. I worked for the weekly paper after a two-month retirement for a total of three years, and now I am writing for My County Link.
Yes, I’d do it all over again. I learned so much and it made me want to do more for our readers.
Look at all of the friends I’ve made over the years because of that. I’d do it all over again.
The regular meetings I attended weren’t always exciting, but I’d do it again. Because I felt it made me a little more gutsy.
At one point in life, I became a mother to my son Jamie, even though I remained a single parent. He’s my pride and joy and I am glad we still reside together. No matter the circumstances, I’d do it all over again.
I am just so glad I was born into the family that I was chosen for. I had the best parents ever.
I would not have changed the homes that I have lived in over the years nor the vehicles that I drove. All of this helped make me who I am today.
God gave me and my family a good life.
I would take my nieces and nephews camping and swimming, and just recently was reminded that I took Jamie and his friend Sam to the movie, “No Holds Barred.” I’ve even taken him to and was among those who went to so-called big time wrestling matches even though I had no particular interest in them. Jamie still loves them and I let him watch them but he’s not a mean person but a Gentle Giant like my cousin Rick once called him.
Jamie and I are not perfect people, but that’s okay. We are enjoying life.
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Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of: Ron Bonfliglio, Don R, Phillips, Galen Hackett and Barbara Lavy.
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Please send prayers for Sunni Jones, Corinna Alexander, Katie Cothran, Lynne Bruner Hinshaw, the 22-month-old son of Kayla Scott, Tom Everhart, Ron Moody, Donn Thornhill, Carissa Rodriguez, Kevin Christman, Ivan Christian, Scott Monnin, Roger Fleckenstein, Karon Crowell, Bob Jackson, Penny Hopkins, Renee Bergman, Sherry Lawrence, Jerry Gower, Barbara Alexander, Kierra Reichert, Evelyn Manning, Becky Shultz, Kevin Schlechty, Darla Printz Whittaker, Roan Brubaker, Sandy Partin, Sandy Gunckle, Tonya Kelly, Jody Christman, Robert Christman, Mike Hopkins, Bob Christian, Linda Johnston, Terri Hunt, Patricia Maier, Ken Wombold, Dan Lockhart, Delores Beisner, Jodi Gilpin Snyder, Charlie Bulcher, Charlyee Severance, Justin Fritz, DeWayne Yohey, Katrina Hoening, Kara Didier, Carl Francis, Craig “Cheese” Thompson, Bridget Brown, Don DeBord, Otis Stewart, Slug Midlam, Bob Peters, Phyllis Brumbaugh, Judy Collins, Linda Gasper, Carol Hemmerich, Roberta Hall, Kelly Kelch, Mike Mayse, Nikole Baldridge, Mark Lovejoy, Judy York, Donald Booker, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Ralph Byrd, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Doug Whittington, Neal Gray, Judie Hathaway, 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 to:
April 29 to Allison Stith, Bill Roll and Nancy Adams.
April 30 to Bernie May, Cindy Horsley, John Bennett, Dr. Beth Vehre, Jeff Dohme and Marietta Beane.
May 1 to Bruce Adkins, LeAnne Kelly McClure, Tiffany Black, Ashley Julian and Becky Schultz.
May 2 to Ruth Peters, Shawn McGuire, Cody Spencer, Linda Smith and Carol Weaver.
May 3 to Larry Duncan and Karen Waymire Link.
May 4 to Ashley Gilpin, Shelly Haber, Krista Waymire and Carleen Beisner.
May 5 to Kelly Moody, Cindy Pike, Anita Best, Herb Nieport, Tom Beane, Pat Williams , Tammy Moody Deitering, Jeff Slyder, Ron Bailey and Carolyn Clack Ganger.
Happy anniversary to Carl and Linda Dress on April 30 and Roger and Lesley Fourman on May 2.
Think about it: “Life is the first gift; love is the second; and understanding is the third. ” – Marge Percy
