“So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.” Like the Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music, I am signing off from writing my column. I may contribute occasionally but it is time to take a hiatus from the weekly pressure of creating an interesting story.
I’ve been writing weekly since 2019 that amounts to some 168 columns and over 100,000 words. That’s about enough from me!
Before I go, I wish to thank the Herald Times and editor, Niki Turner, for accepting my work and featuring it so prominently. Rarely did you reject any of my submissions and rarely did you edit my words. That is a great honor.
I am also grateful to folks all around town whom I interviewed, your willingness to educate me on everything from the fire department noon siren to the Episcopal Church carillon. Thank you for your patience with my questions plus spending time reviewing my drafts prior to publication.
To my husband, Jay Sullivan, thanks for reading my rough drafts, suggesting improvements, and telling me on occasion, “no you can’t publish that.” A talented writer himself, he has been my faithful initial editor with honesty and support.
To all you readers who appreciate my column, thank you for your support and readership. Many of you have taken time to talk with me at the post office or grocery or contact me. I don’t know all of you, but every positive comment keeps a writer trying to continue and improve.
Many people seem to feel that writers have some magical talent and the right words just pop up. On occasions I can whip out a story quickly, but most require considerable reflection and editing before they are ready to go public. It’s almost like a job, but a fun one.
Writing the HT articles has given a lot back to me. It’s fun to research topics and discover things I didn’t know before. I have learned a tremendous amount about our community and met lots of interesting people. Even having deadlines has brought discipline to how I spend my time. My writing has improved which carries over to other aspects of my life.
As a retiree, supposedly I have lots of available time. But I’ve learned the more you volunteer and the more activities you undertake, the more overwhelmed you become. It’s time for me to parse my commitments. It’s time for a rest.
Signing off for now, Kaye
By KAYE SULLIVAN – Special to the Herald Times
