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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,January 2,2020 theifp.ca As the calendar flips to 2020, I find the new year can often be a time of new beginnings. And also be a time for closure. Effective today, this is my last "Ted Bit" to be pub- lished in The Independent & Free Press. It's a bittersweet deci- sion to wrap up my col- umn, which I've been writ- ing more than 30 years. It's like saying farewell to an old friend and comrade. But the time has come. It's been a super ride these past years. I've enjoyed reminiscing about years gone by, or being able to champion some change or build awareness of some sit- uation within our communi- ty through my writings. And I've had lots of fun doing it. I've been thanked for my columns and been criti- cized for them. When I retired as a staff- er from the Independent & Free Press (IFP) in Jan. 31, 2014, to become a freelance contributor, I thought back to the early days, when I was hired by then editor Hartley Coles. The entry in my diary in 1982, after meeting with Hartley to discuss me free- lancing for him reads, "Time will tell if it's going to pan out." That meeting did pan out and I enjoyed 32 years of loving my job. In January 2014, when I officially retired, I was asked by The IFP manage- ment to continue my col- umn as a freelance contrib- utor. I now have more than 30 years of columns on file. I often think back to those early years, when I first started writing my column. With Hartley Coles' re- tirement, I took over space on the editorial page he oc- cupied with his column. When he retired, he gave me some sage advice with that sparkle in his eye. "If you write a column about something, and peo- ple are angry about it, don't worry. They'll be back to read you again next week to see what you've written, so they can get angry about it all over again!" In the early days, having four daughters gave me an ample supply of "column fodder" as the kids grew. I made a deal with my daughters. If I wrote a col- umn about any or all of them, they read it before going to press - they had "veto rights." And I don't recall any of them ever exercising that veto in all those years. I've enjoyed the count- less readers who have fol- lowed me throughout the years. Sometimes to con- gratulate me, or other times challenge me on something I've written. I've enjoyed people ask- ing how Hamish, our bor- der collie, is doing, or what The Sidekick and I have been up to lately. Some- times they ask about my vehicles - the two Mus- tangs, and the L'il Red Rocket - or sometimes ask questions about farming or heritage buildings around the farm. During these 30-plus years, I've willingly put myself out there, with my name and photo displayed prominently opposite the editorial page. When one wears "their heart on their sleeve," the public feels they know you personally. And over the years, I've enjoyed meeting with all of my readers out there. When I came onboard as a freelancer in 2014, I knew it was not going to last for- ever. I knew the time would eventually come when I'd step down, and retire my note pad. Thanks to all for your kind words and compli- ments - if you run into me out and about, I'm still hap- py to chat. So this is the final edi- tion. It's not easy to wrap up something which has been alive for so long. But my thoughts are best summed up with lyr- ics from The Beatles song, In my life. There are places I'll re- member All my life, though some have changed Some forever, not for bet- ter Some have gone, and some remain All these places had their moments With lovers and friends, I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life I've loved them all ... As always, Ted Ted Brown can be con- tacted at tedbit@hot- mail.com. 'IN MY LIFE, I'VE LOVED THEM ALL ...' OPINION GOODBYE AFTER 30-PLUS YEARS, WRITES TED BROWN TED BROWN Column This 1908 postcard shows people enjoying a day of skating on Sykes Dam in Glen Williams on New Year's Day. The skating area was near the bridge between the United Church and St. Alban's. EHS photo THE WAY WE WERE