Today is Mother’s Day, and we’re fortunate we still have our mother, Beatrice A. (Riffell) Moody.

Mom was always the strong one in our family. She has been through a lot. She was the youngest in a family of nine. Her father had died when she was 14 months old, so she knew what it was like to run a good household thanks to the teachings of her own mother, Mary Catherine (Stoner) Riffell.

Mom has had wonderful words of wisdom for us and treated us all the same. She sewed, cooked, built things and had a garden, canning and freezing things she reaped….some of the things that I wished I could have been better at doing.

She was there for us siblings. She taught us how to drive and got out there and played ball and other games with us. She was a stay-at-home mom most of the time, but when Dad fell from a horse and broke his arm one year, she went to work to help with the family income.

Then, after her youngest child got a little older, Mom went to work for Aunt D’Arleen Waymire’s flower shop in Ansonia. And, she truly enjoyed that. She has always been creative.

She is the ideal mother, the love of my dad’s life. And, I’m so glad I was a product of that love.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom, and to all of you other mothers out there.

•••••

If no one has heard, I will be retiring effective May 26 from The Daily Advocate with 50 years of service.

I didn’t really want to, but as days go on, it seems like new blood is needed and that’s the right decision for me.

So, it’s bittersweet, like many of those who’ve retired before me have said.

The newspaper business, just as with other industries, has changed in the 50 years I’ve been with it. I cannot count the different amounts of “equipment” I have had to learned to use to get the newspaper published. And, so far I have survived. I never thought half a century ago, I would someday be using a computer, and now feel like I don’t see how we ever lived without it.

My fear is that newspapers will someday will only be seen online and not everyone has or wants computers. They say people’s lives have changed so much that there is no time to read newspapers. I do believe that because of the busy lives we lead, but, in my opinion, the published word is best because you can clip the articles and keep them if you want.

I am going to miss it; that’s for sure. But, I’ve put it in God’s hands; so, it’s up to Him.

Sure, I may have to return to the work force some day, since that’s all I’ve done for most of my life. And, I hope that when and if I do, it will be as enjoyable as journalism has been.

I’ve enjoyed and valued every friendship I’ve made at my job. Don’t be afraid to contact me or speak to me when you see me out and about, and please don’t hate me if I ask a lot of questions, because that’s been my job. It’s an unforgettable life that I’m going to miss…that’s for sure.

•••••

Don’t forget:

• There will be a Treaty City Seniors dance Monday at the VFW Post on North Ohio Street in Greenville from 1 to 4 p.m.

• The last steak fry of the season at Ansonia American Legion will be today. Cost is $13.

•••••

Happy birthday to:

• May 16 to Nancy Fetters, Larry Hesson (75), Ethan Hemmerich, Ed Ruhe, Derick Hathaway and Jody Van Hoose.

• May 17 to Helen F. Eley (90), Alan Lindamood Linda Yoder, Mike Appleman, Kathy Stump, Deborah Sagraves, Dick George, George Starks,

• May 18 to Corinna Alexander, Bonnie Studabaker Scheidel, Kathy Hamilton, Nathaneal J. Rice, Audrey Archey, Kendra Earick, Zac Brown, Torrance Wickham and Travis Shinn.

• May 19 to Daniel Soward, Debbie Knight, Alan Rismiller, Karen Lawrence, Katie Crandall, Mike McCord, Mason Hiestand, Darla Ullery and Wayne Lakes Mayor Gary Young.

• May 20 to Donna Pauline Elleman, Randy Taylor, Loretta Jones, Alice Barton, Mike Bryant, Mary Schrader, Eileen Riegel, Dean Easterling, Tracey Richardson, Lydia Snyder, Scott Ward, Libby Price, Amber Plessinger, J.J. Hall and Danny Gibbs (40).

• May 21 to Cheryl Edwards, Debby Sodders, Gaylen Blosser, Wanda Duncan Vetters, Bill Gibbons, Leanna Whittington, Alice Knick, Roberta Harden, Matilda Lore, Kasity Gregg, Matthew Lewis and Rachel Mendenhall.

• May 22 to Gordon Knick, Blaze Anderson and Vi Klackner.

Happy belated birthday to: Kurt Horn on May 2.

Happy anniversary to: Harold and Eileen McKnight and Kris and Michelle Dickey, all on May 19; and Jeff and Kim Peters on May 20.

•••••

Don’t forget to pray for: Tom Brumbaugh Jr., Mason Osterloh, Marilyn Peterson, Irma Stewart, Ruby Fenstermaker, Judy Peters, Carl Francis, Harry Moody, Gary Foureman, Kent Clark, Kyndal Wynk, Ron Kreitzer, Vickie Martin, Betty Kremer, Jeff Stump, Stacy Dorko, Charlotte Metzcar, Vicki Wilker Gibson, Evan Boggs, Rhonda Rodeheffer Rismiller, Janet Bolin, Shirley Miller, Roger Flory, Albert Duncan, Jack Good, Bill Duncan, Keith Starks, Darla Bowman Miller, Cheri Antrobus Davis, Scott Clark, Steve Schafer, Tom Hawkins, Greg Moody, Connie Apple, Jodie Glick, Kohen Thwaits, Jerrod Pratt, Dawn Oldiges, Judy York, Lowell Elsass, Linda Johnston, Tracy Bailey, Shannon Peters Hall, Jack Riegle, Bruce Knick, Aiden Turner, Brody Wilson, Carol Bollheimer, Roger McEowen, Al Bliss, Tim King, Gary Poor, Layna Best, Jean Eastridge, Alishia Clark Funk, Glenna Curry, Mike Bale, Phyllis Gibbons, Carmen Sanders, Michael Allen Clark, Elmer Long, Shirley Mead, Kathy Magoto,

Also, Wanda and Joe Bailey, Shelly Hoffman, Lisa Hall, Tammy Shapiro, David Magoto, Phil Clark, Sonny Hunt, Don and Nina McDaniel, D’Arleen Waymire, Pappy Harshman, Delores Duncan Bridges, John Klipstine, Elsie Svajda, Sue Chitty, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr., Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Teresa Mayo Amspaugh, Tina Kiser Deaton, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Faye Schlecty, Sheila Reed, Bill Beasley, Kody Ketring, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Addie Henderson, Samantha Smith, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch and Bill Schuette.

And, pray for all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases, and may God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation, as well as rescue, fire and law enforcement personnel who put their lives on the line to protect us.

•••••

Jamie and I send our condolences out to the families of: Bill Funderburg, Erwin Baker, Don Maloy and Delbert James.

•••••

Think about it: “Haul forgotten dreams down from dusty shelves and follow them.” — Unknown