Snippets by Beth Boswell Jacks

 “A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel,                                                                 
so nothing can harm you.”
                 ~ Irish Blessing

Yes, after much deliberation I’ve decided to put myself on a less rigid schedule. This will be my last column after churning ‘em out weekly for thirteen years and two months. Thirteen just seemed like a good stopping point – kind of a quirky number that fits the column well.

Muhammad Ali once said, “There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people,” which, of course, includes oneself. It’s time.

I’m thinking I might go back to writing for children’s magazines. My eight grandkids would like that, although they all loved to see their names in the newspaper. A couple of the children’s mags rerun my poems and stories from time to time, and with each rerun I get small checks and notes from the editors, so that’s encouraging. I can keep my brain in creative mode but write without deadlines.

Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, now deceased, once wrote to friends upon his retirement: “Who knows whether in retirement I shall be tempted to the last infirmity of mundane minds, which is to write a book.”

Yeah, that too if the mood strikes me.

And perhaps I’ll create a Snippets page on Facebook, or maybe I’ll blog. Or maybe I won’t do any of that and will just enjoy Lake Nottalottawatta and the grands.

Anyway, I really appreciate those readers I’ve had over the years, and I thank those of you who took time to call or send notes. I’ve saved every bit of correspondence in ten huge three-ring binders. In my really old age I’ll go back through the stories and letters and will have nothing but happy memories of my days as a wannabe journalist.

Please know I have never written anything to embarrass or hurt anyone intentionally, and I also hope I gave readers something every now and then that made them chuckle. I’m realizing more and more every day as I creep toward that big 7-0 that life is way too short to dwell on the negative.

Humor can chase away, or at least soften, life’s uncertainties and problems. Let the sunshine in!

Remember Red Skelton, that wonderful comedian? I keep these words from him above my computer: “I live by this credo. Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness.

Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough.”

Live, love, laugh . . . and be kind to all.
God bless! See you around the corner.
[Write: bethjacks@hotmail.com ]