I recently received a promotion. It doesn’t pay much, but to me it is another facet of the dream coming true. 

For the past eight months I’ve had a by-line, The Night Hawk, in a small newspaper based out of Glenrock, Wyoming. The readership is approximately four thousand and extends across the state in both hard copy and on-line editions. The editor of The Glenrock Bird, Amanda Smith, has given me the freedom to write about most anything that strikes my fancy from politics to gardening and every imaginable topic in-between. It’s become quite popular. Reader comments range from “That gal has guts!” to “She’s really a hoot!” Of course there are those that disagree at times with what I have to say. That’s all right with me. By-lines are notorious for instigating discussion.

February arrived and Amanda offered me the opportunity to become a staff-reporter. So, in addition to the by-line, which has taken on a new identity, now called ‘I’m Just Sayin…’ I write two or three additional pieces each week. The increased burden of productivity is really a joy, although occasionally I end up with an assignment about which I know very little – like bowling!

With access to the Associated Press feed for important issues, it’s a step up and beyond my own anticipations for the year 2010. Sometimes good things come along quite unexpectedly. I’m thankful for the opportunity.