'The last chapter'

After a lifetime in the newspaper business, including a few years in the New Prague office, I am writing the last chapter of my direct involvement in the industry.

I really don’t like the word “retirement,” just because it sounds so final, or finished, but I guess that’s what it is. I won’t be at the Messenger office after this month, except for cleaning out my desk, which contains considerable accumulated ‘stuff’ that a person keeps for unknown reasons, “because it might come in handy some day.”

After all these years, people might see me driving down to south main street in the morning, just because it becomes a habit.

As Editor Wade mentioned recently, these farewell or retirement columns can often sound like an obituary. But this one won’t, because it will be short and sweet, simply saying “It is time” to quit typing on the computer keyboard (typewriter for many years prior to the technology takeover), attending meetings and events, including school and community sports, and being involved with a reporter’s notebook in hand.

Speaking of obituaries, we had quite a bit of knowledge in that area, since my wife, Kay, and myself were owners and operators of the Keohen Memorial Funeral Home in Montgomery for several years, until retiring from that service last year.

Writers have often followed their own advice of not listing people they want to thank, for fear of missing someone important, but that rule of thumb is not always in the cards at the close of a career.

I can’t close this chapter without thanking the owners of Suel Printing, parent company of the Messenger since 1988—Chuck, Jan, Art and Dave Wann, and our dear friend, the late Lois Wann, the matriarch of the Wann family. And at the local level, Wade has been great to work with, as were Karen Richter and Lori Nickel in previous years

. Someone might ask how long I have been involved in the newspaper business. One estimate has it like this: I know I probably was down at the Messenger Office when I was about nine years old, sweeping floors, asking questions as all youngsters do, and getting in the way. That would put my career at about 70 years, except for three years of college (how’s that for a tricky way of revealing my age).

I know I will miss the Messenger and the contact with so many wonderful people, but it’s time to move on to another chapter. I don’t fish or hunt, although I remember going fishing with Jack Sery and Neil Turek as a youngster, so maybe some of their expertise will start flowing down from above and get me interested again. Otherwise, there are always things to do around home and in the community, with volunteering to help others at the top of the list. We’ll see.....

Using a comment I have often used when departing from a gathering or event, “We don’t say goodbye, but we’ll see you later!” God Bless our community and our nation!

• • • An Irish Blessing

May you have many friends, and may they be as mature in taste and health and color and as sought after as the contents of this glass.

May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.

May every hair on your head turn into a candle to light your way to heaven. And may God and his Holy Mother take the harm of the years away from you.

And ... may you have no frost on your spuds, no worms on your cabbage. May your goat give plenty of milk, and if you should buy a donkey, please God, may she be pregnant!

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New Prague, MN 56071

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