Life is wonderful.

What's news? I've spent most of my life in the news business. As a writer for newspapers. And I'm not sure that I know the answer to that question. In large part, I suppose, it was whatever I decided to write about. Sometimes in conjunction with my editors and publishers. But very, very often, I'm the guy that decided. Don't know that I always had good judgment. But I ended up writing about many things. Often, based on the degree of controversy or entertainment value. Maybe, too, decisions were based on what we thought people wanted to read. But one thing I know, often we used the grab-bag technique. We wrote about things that we had time to write about. I've written for daily newspapers. And weekly newspapers. Usually, the bigger the paper, the wider the spectrum. If it was a weekly, it was largely local news. On reflection, maybe my favorite was the weekly. I had more freedom. I'd be both writer and editor. And I had opportunity to delve into the underbelly of a community. Maybe it was a microcosm of America. I got to know the big fishes in the little pond. The mayor. The city council members. The schoool board members. The business leaders. Even the local gadflies. All kinds of characters. I even became a character, of sorts. Because I even wrote a weekly column. Called it Broede's Broodings. And after I went on to take a job as a writer for the capital city daily newspaper, I stayed in the small town and got elected to the school board. I took an active political and social role in my community. I was able to do that because I had built a reputation over several years as a writer for the local weekly. People got to know me, and how I think. I was in a high profile job. I wrote about local issues. And so, I was well-informed. I'm retired now. So maybe I don't stay as cognizant of community happenings. But I have more time to think. To reflect. For instance, about the state of the news media and the state of the economic, political and social systems in the USA. And the world, for that matter. I spent 5 weeks this summer in Europe. Mostly in Italy and Germany. And I read a lot. And I've cultivated a handful of relationships. With nice people. One in particular. Yes, I've fallen in love again, almost two years after my long-time love, Jeanne, died of Alzheimer's. I feel more alive than ever. And I've learned to live one day at a time. To savor life. Oh, so many precious moments. I think I used to race through life. Trying to do too many things. Spreading myself thin. Now I've slowed down. Set my priorities. Yes. Yes. Yes. I've never been more alive. Life is wonderful. --Jim Broede