Seems like only yesterday
Retirement isn't what it's cracked up to be, or is it? Time will tell. In the meantime we embark on another career as a novice, beginner, a neophyte sailing uncharted waters.
Your "Ol' Editor," if he's still allowed to refer to himself in that fashion, continues to think of himself as "that young man in town, just back from the war."
We've turned the reins over to others, but continue to keep our spoon in the pot (we're now allowed to mix metaphors). We'll continue to write a column and an occasional editorial when the fire in our belly begins to blaze. And we'll keep our downtown office as a place to hide out and not be underfoot at home.
The late Paul Shahan offered advice, saying don't retire during the fall or winter months. "Do it in the spring," Paul said, "so you have the lawn to keep you busy." The late John Riddle didn't agree, "Don't ever retire" was his advice. Your OE has no hankering for yard work, never did.
These aren't the last words we'll write in this newspaper, but we well remember the first. They were a cutline for a photo of two young girls. The first story was about Nodie Baker cranking his old pickup truck. We described it as "shaking hands" with his Model A Ford.
"After 55 years," one wag observed, "your writing is as good as ever." He went on to add, "I never did like it."
Now that Conoco and Phillips have merged, are they going to call it Conoco 66?
The late Jim Ryan, Florence businessman and philanthropist, made a fortune investing in oil stocks. He used money from family oil production near Florence and said he didn't know which stock to buy until he remembered that folks say "fill it up" at the service station. So he bought Phillips.
Remind me, later, to tell how Jim's father got rich in the grocery business because he couldn't make it as a railroad track section foreman.
Someday, not now, I plan to write a book on community newspaper publishing. I won't tell "how to do it" or offer my profound solutions, I'll drive around Kansas visiting long time friends and observe their operations — then divulge their secrets.
A smart man, a banker friend who's done well, said his philosophy is to cut loose of a bad investment, take his losses, and "don't look back." He more recently recommended "while driving down the highway of life, look through the windshield more than the rear view mirror."
Another bright friend reminded that even a broken watch is right twice each day.
The home run you hit yesterday doesn't count in today's game.
— BILL MEYER
