Yes I am
If you weren't already suspecting it, I'll put it out there for public consumption now.
I'm conservative. I vote Republican.
That doesn't mean I blindly agree with all right side of the aisle issues and thoughts, though. I think for myself on issues. I believe what I believe. Most of my friends are liberal folks who vote Democrat and disagree with me on many issues. Hey, it's all good.
I think that's fine. It's why I thank God every day that I'm an American. We can debate it out. We elect leaders instead of blowing each other up. Our system isn't perfect -- no system is -- but it damn well works about the best of any system in this world, thanks be to our forward-thinking founding fathers.
Looking around the newsroom right now, I'm surrounded by so many various manners of color, religion, mindset, sex, national origins. It's a beautiful, nonpartisan thing.
Final run
Ed from the Sports copy desk died this week. Another guy ran a red light and slammed into Ed's car. That was that -- the end of a life.
Our newspaper offered buyouts to a number of newsroom employees last summer and Ed was among the group who left. He enjoyed six months of retirement before he died at 3 p.m. on a busy stretch of suburban Atlanta road. He was in his early 60s but didn't look it. Ed got married four years ago. He was a vegetarian. Ed was a Red Sox fan. He was quiet, thoughtful and gentle. Kind. Ed was kind.
Ed's passing marks the third loss in our newsroom this year alone. First, we lost a colleague in my group -- Diane -- who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died within a month. She was 42. Derrick had been suffering a long illness and died just a couple of weeks ago. And now Ed. We've lost many good people during my eight years at the paper: Dan, Doug, Prentis, Jeffrey, Diane, Derrick, Carrie's husband, Ed, Jeanine. There are folks I know I haven't listed, but it wasn't on purpose.
Every death is untimely. Every life matters to us. We miss our friends.
Labels: accidents, deaths, newspapers, work
Saturday in the Park
This is the second straight Saturday I've been lucky enough to meet my friend Deanna and her sweet dog Roxy for a Piedmont Park playdate. It's great to get out of my house, on one hand, just for a little break. Because I need the time off, no matter how short it is. One thing that I can't help thinking, whenever I'm walking through the park, is that I'm not doing anything all that special. Atlantans have been spending their Saturdays enjoying a stroll through Piedmont (with or sans dog) throughout the century. I'd love to see the photos from those old days.
Weekenders, dogs, picnics, kids running around, people playing lawn games. Despite all our new toys and technological advancements, we haven't changed so much. Good to know we're still down with a day outside in the fresh air.
Labels: atlanta, cities, dogs, games, georgia, parks, recreation
