Opinions

It’s been a few weeks, months…since I’ve had a chance to communicate in my usual fashion with “Babbling Brook” and I figure I’ve owed everyone an explanation. It’s been an….

Julie and I are in the early months of what we like to call our “retirement.” Sure, it has been a while since we hit 65, or 67, or whatever age you can start getting Social Security -- but the process of getting retired and dealing with the various programs can be complicated. I understand now why seniors need to get financial advice and especially need advice on Medicare and/or Medicaid.

If you have noticed the absence of Babbling Brook recently, you are not alone. In the interest of keeping all valued readers and advertisers informed, we needed to let you know: Brook underwent some major surgery last week, relative to an internal infection.

I find myself slowing down a little in the past several months. I think they call that “retirement mode.” It has been an interesting ride.

A week ago, I couldn’t have imagined doing what I’m doing at this moment. But here we are.

Surprise! I’m back haunting the Albion News/Boone County Tribune offices this week, because publisher Brook Curtiss finds himself in the hospital this week with some medical issues. I don’t know if I was prepared to take this role as editor on again temporarily, and it is amazing how much I’ve forgotten in the past two months.

I’m probably what one could consider the biggest scaredy cat in the world. In my later years I have become rather fond of the genre of horror films, but for the first 35 years or so, I wasn’t having much to do with Halloween and “scary stuff.” I didn’t like horror or scary films, but then found that there was a bit of interesting storytelling that could be done with scares and suspense.

I’ve got a kid in college, one in upper high school and two in the elementary - we’ve got 8 offices in 8 different towns over 300 miles, and the only thing I can really think about is this upcoming election.

It shouldn’t really have to be said - but this election season, I hope everyone will take a moment to sit, think and prepare for their ballots. There’s a lot going on, and part of what makes our country the best one in the world is that we get to control our own destinies - so some extent anyway.

We recently picked up another paper in our group - bringing the Verdigre Eagle into the business. I have to tell you, it seems to make everyone nervous.