Time to Say Farewell to This Column

Another Way for December 29, 2023

Time to Say Farewell to This Column

For 36 years I have written Another Way newspaper columns. Let’s do the math. That’s 1872 columns by my count, and something like 1,235,520 words. Of course, I had help sometimes from occasional substitute writers such as readers and relatives. The hardest part of writing a column (and many other columnists or pastors will agree) is coming up with original, interesting, and engaging thoughts and experiences to share.

I have written about everything under the sun from gardening to traveling to cooking to world or local news, to losing Dad, Mom, co-workers, and so many others. I’ve often told people that I write because it helps me process life and record memories, experiences and thoughts. I have watched other writers as they do the same (whether it be newsy, spiritual, or family oriented). I feel the time has come for someone else to have this space. I remember one well-known Mennonite writer, Robert Baker, who wrote in various weekly or monthly religious papers or magazines. At some point he did this same thing: moved over so someone else could share their thoughts, experiences and hopes. I went to high school with one of his daughters.

Radio speaker and friend Margaret Foth is to be credited with giving me this opportunity to write in local newspapers. After writing it for ten years as a spin off from her radio program, “Your Time,” in one meeting before she closed out her program, she suggested that I pick up the print column since I helped edit it for her. I should also flag Paul Yoder for bringing the idea to us at Mennonite Media at the time. He had many contacts in the small newspaper field, which was helpful! At its most prolific, the Another Way column was used by around 20 papers in the U.S., Canada, and India.

My first column in 1987 told the story of a Florida couple I cleaned house for one summer in the late ‘70s. The husband was a judge for the county, who later was tragically killed by a disgruntled and dangerous local man. My most-read column was another heartbreaking story of a teenager of a well-known TV pastor at the time. The teen died of a drug overdose.

Some of my personal favorites from over the years include one that I wrote about beautiful Tangier Island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, and dozens of readers responded to their particular plight (continually losing their shoreline). I finally got to visit there. I wrote about the Gulf War, and again received many letters affirming a call for peace. Professors and pastors responded to that one.

What kept me going? Hearing from readers, including many letters and emails, most from women but many men too. Debbie Judy lives in the nearby state of West Virginia and she was one such reader—who I actually got to meet! We spent part of a Sunday afternoon strolling her hills, chatting and connecting in a personal way. She and her husband invited our family to use their cabin in those mountains, which we did on a snowy April weekend. I’ve since learned that her husband has now entered the heavenly realms, so prayers extend to the Judy family.

The two longest running papers were The Daily American in Somerset Pa. and a gig my Dad arranged at The Goshen News, (Ind.) almost 20 years ago. I salute these two generous and faithful papers for staying on board so long. If you are curious, these last two papers were paying me $45 a month and $20 a month, so I didn’t do it to get rich. We all know the newspaper print industry is gradually diminishing and shrinking. But I thank the editors who hung on as long as they could.

Now it is time for another trip around the sun (and hopefully other travels) and new hobbies, entertainment, and engagement with six grandchildren and their parents. I feel like I’m retiring “again” because indeed the column gave me a weekly deadline that I met and enjoyed.

For 36 years, I’ve appreciated sitting down and sharing our adventures, ups and downs, and above all, reaching out in love. Prayers and best wishes to all.

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You can still follow my blog at www.findingharmonyblog.com sharing recipes, thoughts and yes, escapades. My husband says I’ll always be a writer …. Check out the blog or write to me at Another Way, P.O. Box 363, Singers Glen, VA 22834, or email anotherwaymedia@yahoo.com. The yahoo email account and P.O. Box will be closing down at some point.

Another Way was a column by Melodie Davis, in syndication since 1987.

** And remember that photos or advertisements appearing here are put there by WordPress, not by this writer; I get no income from the ads.