Speaking Personally, Sunshine and shadow
Wed, 10/23/2024 - 10:52am
admin
By:
Amanda Mendez, publisher
Our firstborn son is named Leonard Rudolfo Mendez. As I am fond of telling him, our Leo is named for the three hardest-working men I have ever known—Leonard for my grandfather, Rudolfo for Ron’s dad, and Mendez, of course, is his daddy’s surname.
As of Thursday, only one of these hardworking men remain here on earth to help me raise this wild boy. My grandfather Leonard passed away during Leo’s pregnancy, and Rudolfo, better known as “Rudy,” passed away last week.
Right before Christmas 2023, a viral illness sent my beloved father-in-law to the hospital. While he was there, he suffered a bad fall and a subsequent traumatic brain injury.
2024 has been the year Rudy tried to recover.
It has also been the year of the biggest accomplishments and accolades of this publication. Rudy’s long fight ended during the crowning achievement of 2024 – we missed the call because Ron and I were hosting the annual Ozark Press Association conference in the Ferguson Building.
Sunshine and shadow have each played their part in this unforgettable year.
This week, and likely for the next few weeks, the shadows will be dominant.
And reader, this newspaper will suffer for it.
As we say goodbye to my dear father-in-law, our focus will be pulled elsewhere. Already this week, I have cancelled two stories and all our senior night content. I missed the centennial celebration at the Willow Springs Middle School and the annual Halloween orchestra concert. In our fresh grief, we cannot do these things well. I’m liable to miss some local stories, and the senior night content will appear in a future issue when we can do it justice.
The sunshine will come back.
For now, we are in the valley of the shadow.
Psalm 23: 4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.