We’ve had a great ride, haven’t we?
So.
Deep breath.
This is my last column.
I’m not going to pretend this was anticipated or my plan. But I need to thank you.
I’ve been doing this for a decade, give or take a year or two, and there were plenty of stinkers along the way, but I think I did OK sometimes, too. And you were with me the entire time — although it was whether you wanted to go along for the ride or not. (I might have held a few of you hostage, and I am sorry if this space wasn’t to your taste more often than not.)
You were by my side, even for only a once-a-week glimpse, as the children grew up into young people of whom I am so very proud. You were there for their entire childhood, and I’m grateful.
When I started, my Sass was the Sainted Child — an elementary schooler — who became my Sassy Saint, then just Sass. She’s a whirlwind of activity who is better at being an adult than I am.
She takes after her father: her kindness, generosity and her steady nature are all him — thank goodness she took after the responsible one in our relationship. Her snarky, dry sense of humor reminds me of her father as well. She is looking at colleges now. I’m afraid, but I’m excited, too. She’s going to do amazing things.
When I started, the Professor was only the Little Professor. I can’t call him that anymore, because he’s taller than me, and reminds me by patting me on the head whenever it will be the most devastating. He’s a high schooler now. Do you remember when we received his autism spectrum diagnosis?
He’s come so far. I get regular e-mails from his team at school — fierce, engaged, wonderful educators for whom I am grateful — and, this week, I heard about how engaged he was in an afterschool activity and how well he worked in a group. With this team behind him, he’s unstoppable.
When I started, the Long Suffering Husband was patient. Now, he’s being considered for sainthood. Can you believe he’s put up with me for all these years? I can’t believe it either — and I can’t believe I got away with some of the columns that I did.
We went on adventures together, didn’t we? You’ve been there for highs and lows, Grandmama’s shenanigans, Sass drowning the kitchen and both bathrooms, bizarre hockey rituals and the Professor’s infamous “they-pulled-the-goalie” dance, and rogue mice and evil cats.
“At least it will make a good column” became a family mantra whenever a disaster occurred.
Maybe it’s better to bow out gracefully, instead of getting the hook. “Always leave them wanting more” — isn’t that what they say?
Your calls, e-mails and letters have meant so much. If I seemed nonplussed or unsure, it’s because I never stopped being surprised people liked this column enough to reach out and say so.
It was some ride, wasn’t it? And you were there for every bit of it — I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Goodbye and good luck. And always, always: Thank you.
(Wallace-Minger, The Weirton Daily Times community editor, is a Weirton resident and can be contacted at swallace@pafocus.com)
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