Time for a change

*Editor's Note: This was to be my final column but due to unforeseen circumstances wasn't able to be printed.

I could talk about the insanity that is the Taylor's Maid Rite. I could say how absurd the whole idea of shutting them down is. How the institution must be saved and how as a life-long resident who averages eating 12 local Maid Rites a year I’ve never gotten sick from their ridiculously good sandwiches.
I could talk about the asinine idea of turning Linn and Church streets from one-ways in to two-ways. I could launch into what a silly idea it was to turn Main and State streets into two-ways, how the streets still don’t seem wide enough, especially to have opposite side parking and how it took drivers in our fair city quite a few months to get used to such a concept.
I could talk about stress educators nationwide are under in order to have “performing” schools and the options facing our local middle school. I could say how teachers in today’s society have to do much more than just teach and the added governmental paper work only adds to their already overwhelming load.
I could talk about all of those things. But I won’t.
This could be the hardest column I’ve ever had to write – because it’s my last.
The times, they are hard. Companies are still shutting their doors leaving employees without a job. Unemployment rates are high and when today’s motto is, “At least I’ve got a job,” you know things are scary economically.
To put off closing all together many companies are making cutbacks in order to stay afloat. Cutbacks like paying me to write this column.
Now, we’re not talking champagne and caviar money here. We’re talking enough to buy two of my favorite venti, non-fat, vanilla lattes at Starbucks. Maybe. I might have to dig in my own pocket to cover the tax. But the nominal fee was never my motivation for writing. However, that said, I’m not sure working for free in this economic climate is the smartest idea either. Because of this my thoughts and “insights” for lack of a better word, won’t be running on this page after today.
I have covered so many topics in my years at the paper it’s hard to sum up everything I’ve done. It’s hard to leave you with some overall piece of wisdom when in reality, all of us, everyday, are just trying to get by.
How do can I sum up five years? I can’t do it. For once I’m out of words. I can only say it has been an honor to be a part of your lives, and to let you be a part of mine.
However I am taking my thoughts and scraggly insights to the virtual streets, if you will – making lemons out of lemonade – or something like that. You can now catch me on columnistaprilthorn.blogspot.com if you’re still interested in what I’m thinking. And if not, like I said, it’s been an honor.
Goodnight, Marshalltown.