Ned Luce

Life in Ludlow just got easier for me this week. 

I thought Port Ludlow had really gone to sleep and the only things I could write about are my own grandsons, their families, and a couple of other happenings, some of which I just made up. 

The town is alive as the dam broke this week and I got over
10 emails praising last week’s column. 

This is column number 537 for The Leader and I suspect the responses may actually exceed the cumulative total of responses I have had to these weekly compositions and have now given me something to write about.

Frankly, I anticipated any response to last week’s column might involve my encouragement to take on the trivial burden of wearing a mask to protect your partners fighting the coronavirus. (I did get one email suggesting Jefferson County was in such great shape on the virus that we may be engaging in overkill with the emphasis on masks, social distancing, etc.) 

However, the compliments from many others praising my work dealt not with masks etc. but with the overall quality of the column. 

You may remember, as I do, the assignment to write an essay or term paper for your English class whilst in high school or college. I suspect many of you also remember starting to write it around
2 a.m. the night before it was due. You may also remember knowing then that it was really of questionable quality. Then, you surprisingly earned the grade of A-. That was my opinion of last week’s column. The unearned praise was a true surprise.

It appears The Leader and my column have amazingly wide distribution, as I got emails from California, Nevada, Florida and locals praising my work. Who would have thought that David Armitage still reads The Leader after leaving town for COVID-rich Florida. Who thought he even cared about us anymore? Yep, he wrote to me. 

Skip Rasmussen sent kind words from wherever he lives now. Toni and Randall Gross, who may be related to one of our locals, were also kind in their comments. Linda and Lisa Klasky may have the same questionable relationship status with somebody here in town. Even former television network professionals John and Lucrezia Paxson, who should really know bad writing when they see it, gave me some positive feedback. 

Locals Gerry Anderson and the Lovass’s, Laura and Richard, spent some of their valuable time to comment. Frankly, I am dubious that all those folks really take The Leader. I think they were requested by somebody to create these patronizing emails. I hope that is not really true, as whoever did that may be committing a crime. 

What do they think? The Leader is supported by public funds? Heck, we need subscribers and advertisers! Haven’t they heard, the newspaper business is hard and getting harder? Come on, get a subscription! Buy an ad! Please. 

I am reminded of the time I asked my kid to get me a newspaper. They responded, “Don’t be silly, you can borrow my iPad.”

Alas, it certainly is fun to hear from those people, some of whom may actually pay for and read The Leader and most of whom I have not seen in person for some time. It doesn’t matter to me that in order to get 10 emails to me there may have been over a thousand requests from a questionably motivated friend! 

Don’t forget an observation attributed to Arthur Miller, “A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself.”  

Love a curmudgeon, wear a mask and have a great week!

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and the color commentator for Life in Ludlow.)