In May I had the privilege of interviewing Raymond and Virginia Blind, who have been married for 76 years. I truly enjoyed sitting with them and listening to their stories and words of advice. I’ve always loved listening to stories, which is one of the reasons I became a journalist in the first place.
I’m entrusted with the humbling task of sharing those stories with others. When our paths happen to cross again years later, sometimes these people even tell me that in some small way, I became a part of their stories.
What I suspect my sources don’t realize is that they become part of my story as well, and not just the story I’m working on when we meet, but the story of my life. Many significant moments in my life are inextricably linked with the people I’ve met and stories I’ve heard while on the job.
I’ll always remember the teaching Mass Father William Winters held at Holy Cross Parish in Ovid on Feb. 29, 2004, because when I returned home after that Mass I learned my grandfather had passed away that morning. I’ll always remember that March 14, 2006, was the day then-President George W. Bush spoke about Medicare Part D at Canandaigua Academy. On the drive to Canandaigua that morning my head was still spinning with memories of the previous evening, when I’d met the man who later would become my husband.
And I’ll always remember the 100th anniversary Mass at St. Ann Parish in Owasco on Jan. 8, 2012, because my daughter decided to change my life forever by making her way into this world just a few days later.
To all of you who’ve shared your stories with me, thank you for being part of my story.
