The old and the new

This column has been running in The Pilot-Independent for eight years! During that time, we have received many wonderful comments from our readers!

Most of the comments are positive, however, occasionally we receive a negative one, but even the negative comments are beneficial — at least we know the column is being read!

We receive comments every day in one form or another! Usually via email, a telephone call and occasionally a nice thank you card. We are stopped almost every day at the post office, and one time last summer when the main street of our little town was full of traffic — the driver rolled down his window and shouted out, “I love your column!”

The best comments we receive are the ones that also include our little town — as well as the column itself! Some of these comments include:

“When I read your column, I realize one never really leaves Walker and I still get a thrill any time I get a chance to visit my old hometown!”

“Whenever I want a mental escape, I read your column, put the paper down, look out over Leech Lake and remember!”

“Every week I look forward to your column and every year I look forward to my time to visit God’s Country!”

“Your column allowed us to get to know the people and the places of the town we fell in love with years ago — Walker, Minnesota!”

The negative comments are also very beneficial, as one is never too old to learn and the fact that the column is being read is beneficial.

Over the years, such negative comments have included:

“It is very chauvinistic to call women gals.”

“There is only one ‘r’ in Merit Lodge!”

“You sure are full of BS!”

Very ironically, the comment that was most appreciated came from Dean Morrill, the present Editor of The Pilot-Independent. Last week, this “The old and the new” column gave a history of the many newspapers that have been published in our area over the years. The last sentence read, “Dean Morrill, the present editor of The Pilot-Independent should be very proud of his paper, as it has recorded the history, progress and daily life of our little town for 127 years!”

To which Dean replied, “The views and opinions expressed in the ‘The old and the new’ belong solely to the author and not the Pilot Independent.”

The views and opinions expressed in the “The old and the new” column belong solely to the author, and not The Pilot-Independent or an organization, committee or individual.