Sounds good. I'm happy for you.

I thought about you a few times today, Susan, wondering how things were going. I'm glad to hear that you slipped back into things so easily! I would just imagine how tired you are tonight, get some rest dear heart!

From what I gathered, a two week-stint is going to be good enough for you. Did I get that right? If it is true than I believe you are satisfyinig your curiousity about the old days and then willing to leave and help out as needed or if you want to. Very nice attitiude.
There is a song called Let's Jump by Joy Williams. It's on Itunes and fits your many talents. Listen to it. I'll tell you a little about it later if you call me out.But you will be humming it................It works for me a lot.

Maybe this will serve as a reminder that retirement isn't bad at all. LOL. Isn't it nice that you have choices and were so well thought of that they asked you to help out. It's nice to feel needed....and yes, nine years makes a big difference at this point in life.

I wondered how you were doing today! Did it feel like your first day of school in September? Did you spend extra time selecting what you were going to wear? Did you pack a lunch?

Oh no - I just had an awful thought! It's obvious they know your work and think highly of you. What if they decide that they're not in a hurry to get a replacement and your 'couple of weeks' turns into something more permanent? Are your prepared for that possibility?

Slept better last night, which is good because I have to be in even earlier this morning.

I packed snacks yesterday (yogurt, peanuts) and lunch today.

What if they decide that they're not in a hurry to get a replacement and your 'couple of weeks' turns into something more permanent? Are your prepared for that possibility?

I'm very prepared for that possibility, Maire. But permanent is out as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to drive in winter, and newspaper work is pretty demanding. My night vision didn't improve with the lens implants either. As for staying an extra week or two, I'll see how I feel at the end of two weeks. But I doubt it, especially with my granddaughter laid up at home. We're planning to learn to knit together. :-)

Sleep is restorative, Susan; I'm glad you got some!

I told my hub-the-retired-newsman about your endeavor and he said, "I hope she's younger than I am. She's taking on a tough assignment. Reporting is a young person's job." I said Yes, I knew that, as I'd been here when he came home from work all those years. And I know you, Susan, know it, too.

One of the things that happened is I'm nine years older. I don't have the energy I had nine years ago. I don't have the desire to seek out stories, cover events, or sit through interminable township meetings at night. So true. But oh, so very important! It may be a young person's job, but it takes wise, intuitive people like you to keep us well-informed. I applaud you! Thank you.

I've been AWOL and didn't see the post about you going to work, but it sounds like you enjoyed it. Maybe you could write a weekly column from home to satisfy your creative ability.

I think going back to a 5 day week the first week after a vacation is tough, I imagine going back after being retired is really exhausting. (I'm a big proponent of starting new jobs/school/big endeavors on a Wednesday!)

Take good care of yourself this next two weeks so that you are in shape for the important stuff, like spending that time with your DGD!

wait til the "ink" starts flowing...

was joking with dh's cousin, who lives in nj, about doing a story or book about the hurricane.. (he's a published author) the funny thing? had an outline for a story in nyc and hurricane, but hadn't followed thu...

Susan, would they allow you to contribute from home? If they really need a person it might be worth the ask!

Ellie, I looked for that song and found only a clip of it. I have an MP3 player, but should probably be ashamed to admit I've only downloaded books onto it. I gather the song is about taking a leap into something new? I can relate! :-)

Sherrmann, please thank your husband for saying that reporting is a young person's job (and tell him I'm 68). It makes me feel less like a slug. More than once I've envisioned myself the way I used to be at that job: sometimes in jeans, but often in a suit and heels, camera slung over my shoulder, eager to find and write a good story. This week it's been jeans all the way, and while I've handed in a couple of minor feature stories, I'd be content if I had nothing more demanding to do than rewrite police reports. :-)

Good point, Gardenspice! That makes me feel better, too.

Susanjf, that sounds like me. Lots of good ideas, but I need to work on BIC (butt in chair--following through on them).

Patti, I wrote a weekly column for another newspaper for two years back in the 1980s. Gave it up because the pay rate was so dismal. It hasn't gone up much since then. LOL

Lynn, the paper and I have maintained a good relationship over the years, and I've done freelancing for them on occasion. A couple of years ago I did a project involving ten interconnected interviews and photographs. That was fun. At one point I was covering school board and township meetings for another newspaper, but I'm no longer interested in doing that. I've also worked as an editor from home, but I know the paper can't afford anything like that anymore. Newspapers are in financial trouble these days (like so many others).

Okay, I'm going to bed now. Thanks, everyone. Goodnight!