As a writer, it is very important to me to have the approval of my readers, to print what they wish to read. It is very difficult to deal with being judged, not for who you are, but not being who or what someone else thinks you should be.
When Sue Addy emailed me after I took the column over, she graciously encouraged me, and ended her welcome with, “Do not try to do things the way I did them. Make the column yours.” Dear readers, I know that this column is yours, citizens of Union, Mississippi. I can only make it yours if you make it yours.
If you do not give me news to print that you want to read, then I do not have that news to report. I do this column in my spare time, after working full time as a clerk at the local feed mill, and having been in the work force for about 40 years altogether.
No, I wasn’t Union born and bred, but I have lived here for the past 13 years. I have grandchildren here who are Union born and bred. I have lost two siblings and some dear friends during my years here, whom I now visit in the cemetery. I am still here and still living, and doing that to the best of my ability. If I sometimes bore you with my ramblings, please remedy that by sending me something to write that you would rather read.
At the end of each column, I specify to leave a voice mail or send email for a reason. I work as a clerk in the feed order and delivery department of Tyson Feed Mill right here in Union. My job keeps me on the phone and computer all day every day. I am exhausted when I arrive home in the evenings.
I get calls sometimes wanting me to return calls for news. This is difficult, because it is hard for me to focus in a few minutes on the phone. With your voice mail, I can go back to it when I am fresher and have more concentration.
The same applies to emails. I check voice mails and emails every day, and several times a day on weekends. Please try to be patient in my efforts to keep you up to date on local happenings and maybe even entertained from time to time.
This is my appeal to you, dear readers, that you will give me items of news or local interest that I can print. We have subscribers from Union who have moved away and like to hear what you have to report.
Please notify me of your news, items of interest, tidbits, anything your friends and family either local or having moved away might wish to read.
