I am having so much fun going over my retirement cards and messages on Facebook. I am amazed that so many people were considerate enough of me to write special messages, both via cards and Facebook.

I am so glad I touched so many peoples’ lives. I would not have been able to have done it in any other profession, I don’t believe.

Not to embarrass anyone, I would like to share some of those thoughts with my readers. I loved all of the cards and well wishes I received, however.

Here are some of the messages I found in my cards:

• On behalf of my family, we’d like to congratulate you on your well-deserved retirement. We also wish to thank you for the many, many articles you penned about our family…from my grandmother Virginia Wandle’s cooking and life, to my parents’ (Wayne and Sue Detling) retirement, to our Annie Oakley costume winner or People to People delegate. I’ve got dozens of articles I’ve kept that inspired me or helped me recall an earlier time. Your service to Darke County is appreciated. It seems that you served the entire county almost single-handedly.” – Karen Dircksen and family.

• “Wow, what a career! As you know, I don’t live in The Daily Advocate neighborhood but my sister does. Many times over the years, she sent me your articles. I really enjoyed staying in touch with my hometown childhood friends and classmates.”-A classmate of mine, Jane Pepple Hammelrath.

• “Fifty years! What a milestone! Looking back, it probably went fast. Thanks so much for all the promoting you gave for the garden clubs, the fair flower shows and anything else we were involved in. We could always count on you to get the story correct.”- Charlene Thornhill

• “Thank you for providing all those interesting and enjoyable newspaper articles through the years. We all will miss that.”-Mary and Ron Bonfiglio

• “Congratulations on a well-earned retirement! You are a fixture on Broadway and the area at large, and your articles will be missed. Enjoy life without a pen and pad of paper in your hand.” – Unknown [as there was no name on the card unless it was inside something else and I didn’t keep it together].

• “From tire collections to electronic collections, from the Environmental Council to PERI, you have always provided excellent news coverage in everything in which I have participated. God bless you and may you have the best retirement ever. The Advocate won’t seem the same without you.”- Anne Vehre

• “You have done so much for me and my family. When my husband went to the world plowing match, the fundraiser you covered for us. Also for all the [Gettysburg] Lions’ things he was in when he was governor of the district and then when we celebrated our 50th anniversary. You wrote about my family of the generation of us being in 4-H cattle shows and you always do such a good job that I’m thinking you sure are going to be hard to replace. But you go now and enjoy life while you can.”-Mary Valentine

• [This special poem written I think by some with the initials VLW from New Madison]:

“We will miss your happy articles, although you know it’s best.

For you and Jamie, for you just know you well deserve the rest.

So we are hoping that you can just sit back and let go

Oh, you’ll see mistakes-without your careful eye you know.

And no snow

Just think that you can go to various places and just look

And just sit back; there is plenty of time to just read a book.”

The message went on, “No more scheduled time nor being in a hurry for noon. Time is all of yours and Jamie’s to do as you please. Still, we will miss you. We’ve been reading papers for 30 years. Do what you plan to each day and smile at the unplanned.”

• “Couldn’t resist sending this card. You took pictures of my husband and me when we purchased The Dairy Barn in Bradford in 1986 and they were published in the Greenville Daily Advocate. You were so kind and thoughtful to us and the article you wrote was wonderful. We ran that business for 7 1/2 years until my heart started to deteriorate and it was purchased by Dallas Weldy in 1993. We moved to Sebring, Florida, and still continue to live there, and we are in the area now to attend the high school graduation of our youngest granddaughter. Saw the notice in the Advocate of your retirement and had to send you this note to express our appreciation of your dedication to your job and your kindness and loving spirit.”-Marvin and Carolyn Miller

• “We truly should tap the drums for you. It’s almost unheard of today to serve 50 years in a work position. We are fortunate to have you in our community. Thank you for sharing your fun articles, your help, your birthday dates for others and the need for prayer for others. So thankful your mother can appreciate this honor for you.”-Pat Showalter

• “Thanks so much for all the twin spins you wrote about me and my twin brother, Dale Marker, and the twins in our family. Also, the interview and font-page picture of Dale and me and our classmates of 1942 graduation at the Fairlawn. All of us are 92 and approaching our 93rd birthdays. You’ve been great.”-Doris M. Neff

“In 1967, I was hired by Jack Campbell and the Greenville Advocate to be a proofreader. I worked beside you and June Baker for several years. We had some great times and many good memories. I always enjoyed your newspaper articles and your dedication to family and friends.”-Marsha (Moore) Wysong.

• “I have always read and enjoyed your articles in the Greenville Advocate. I worked 30 years at the uptown Worch Memorial Public Library in Versailles and enjoyed working with the books and the public. I miss both very much, but I am enjoying my 20 years of retirement, and you will too.”-Martha Oliver

• “Congratulations on your 50-year milestone and on your retirement. you have been such a great supporter of all the many organizations in our community. You have a great positive attitude and spread that attitude wherever you go. God bless you and Jamie.” – Judy and Keith Fasnacht

• “I can remember you covering the 4-H revues when I was in the Franklin Flyers 4-H Club and then you were still covering it when my boys modeled for the Joyful Jets 4-H Club. How the quantity of revues have changed? I moved on to selling Tupperware for Dolores Bowman and you still covered the revues. 4-H won’t be the same without you.”-Sherri (Kochersperger) Thompson

• “It really is amazing that you have worked 50 years for the same employer. I never would have imagined that I would still be at GTI after 27 years. Thank you for all the great publicity you have given the garden clubs and all of our fair stuff over the years. Thanks also for the great spotlights you have done on our family. You are like family to us. As well as a garden club family. Good luck in your future endeavors and don’t be a stranger.”’-Kim Cromwell

See why I shared these?

I hope I’m not boring the readers, but I plan to run some of my messages received through email next week.

•••••

Kim Freeman, vice president of patient care at Wayne HealthCare, has received her doctorate degree. Congratulations, Dr. Freeman!

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Don’t forget:

• Ansonia Community Garage Sales are set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 8-10. The $3 registration fee can be mailed to Betty Burnfield, P.O. Box 758, Ansonia, OH 45303 or, for everyone’s convenience, drop the fee along with an address in an envelope marked “Community Garage Sale” in the water department drop box. Maps will be available at most area businesses and city building.

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Happy birthday to:

• June 8 to Ron “Slug” Midlam, Jodi Bennett, Tracey Luce, Jared Faller, Ashley McEldowney and Judy Longenecker.

• June 9 to Susan Harbison, Velma Campbell, Terry Stammen, Deloris Miller, Cindy Downey, Jeff Madewell, Paula Stewart and Peggy Hollingsworth.

• June 10 to June Moody, Martha Schrader Duncan, Teresa Clark Cromes, Kathy McNutt Dapore, Ralph Crist, Cliff McCoy, Michelle Green, Becky Everhart, Diane Weaver-Hahn, Anna Price and Jennifer Beam-Plessinger.

• June 11 to Phil Lawson, Rick Campbell, Eddie Bryant, Joan Hiestand, Tedd Pratt, Steven Mittermann, Derek Grote, Byron Brehm, Al Greiner and Bruce Williams.

• June 12 to Michelle Gibbs-Dale, Rhonda Enicks Werner, Michele Smith, Mary Faller and Barb Schuh.

• June 13 to Rita Young, Rex Kendall, Michael Werts, Teresa Neal, Glen Welch, Ted Riegel, Scott Kaiser, Dustin Mullens, Tiffany Meckes Dickey, Kathy Fleming, Jerrolyn Burk, Norma Parin, Gail Godown and Darrell Gower.

• June 14 to Lisa Ralston, Megan Johnson, Connie Yohey, Scott Drew and Brian Jones.

Happy anniversary to: Roger and Janice Osterloh (50 years) today; Harry and June Moody and Marion and Shirley Price, all on June 10; Darrel and Erin Jones on June 11; Jack and Sherry Hunt, and Marilyn and Galen Wetzel, all on June 12; Nate and Betty (Johnston) Burnfield and Norma and Deloris Miller, all on June 13; and Keith and Rikki Holton and Troy and Janet Kammer, all on June 14.

•••••

Don’t forget to pray for: Tom Brumbaugh Jr., Ron Moody, Bob Peters,Mason Osterloh, Marilyn Peterson, Irma Stewart, Ruby Fenstermaker, Keith Holton, 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, 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.

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Jamie and I send our condolences out to the families of: Travis Foutz, James Marshall and Dolores J. Nestor.

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Think about it: “Genuine beauty, though rarely encountered, will show itself through acts of kindness.” — Unknown