14 July 2015

Farewell My Lovelies


For those of you who have been with SleuthSayers for a while you've seen this before: I tender my resignation, it's accepted rather too quickly, everybody has a round of high-fives.  Then, before you've had time to clear away the empties and dump the ash trays, I'm back; cardboard suitcase in hand. Well, not this time--this time it's farewell, my lovelies. 
Sometimes you just know when it's time for a graceful exit, and this is that time for me.  My years with SleuthSayers have been a great learning experience and I've enjoyed every minute of them.  The staff at HQ, Leigh, Velma, and Rob have been terrific and whenever I needed technical assistance it was forthcoming without additional charge.  In fact, during my time amongst the cast and crew of SleuthSayers I've come to consider them (you all) as friends.  Virtual friends in most cases, though it has been my pleasure to meet a number of our contributors in the flesh, but still friends, or at least fellow travelers.  After all, some of history's great relationships have been those of pen pals, and so it feels to me here.

When I look back over my contributions I find they fall into but a few categories--a reflection of my limitations, I'm afraid: Police procedure, New Jersey, Native American history, Catholicism, a smattering of historical murder investigations, and a bit now and then on writing.  In any event, you've had the benefit of my wit and wisdom on these subjects and I pray that no one was irreparably harmed by the exposure.  If you feel you may have been, Velma entertains all such complaints and will be happy to hear yours.  I understand that she takes such calls strictly between the hours of 11:39 and 11:41 AM on alternate Tuesdays of 31 day months.

For my part, I will be spending all this new free time waiting outside my local watering hole.  There's a sign in the window that reads, "Free Whiskey Tomorrow!"  Everyday I return, but the barkeep just points at the sign and shakes his head.  You can see why I have to prioritize--sooner, or later, tomorrow will come!  And I intend to be there with an empty wallet and a full glass.

            

           

12 comments:

  1. You'll be missed!
    I hope this means you are very busy writing other things.
    All the best.

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  2. David, you will indeed be missed. It's been my great pleasure to meet you not only through your columns but also in person, and I speak for all of us when I say you've been a huge asset to this group. Best of luck to you in all your endeavors, writing and otherwise! Please stay in touch.

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  3. David, I'm sorry to see you go. I've only been here a short time, but I've enjoyed your posts and getting to know. Take care!

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  4. Farewell (again!) David. I (we) trust you will at LEAST stick around in the Comments!

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  5. Farewell (sob!) our lovely! We will miss you - but we expect you to visit once in a while!

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  6. Thanks for the kind words, everybody. I will, indeed, lurk in the comments sections like a bad conscience. By the way, I should have said before that I am well. In spite of my lifestyle, I remain mostly hale and, sometimes, hearty. My departure is based on commitment restructuring, some of which is due to health issues within my family (not the kids, or grandkids, thank God). Then there's writing, of which I can never seem to find enough time to do. Of course when the time does miraculously crop up, I waste half of it staring at the screen and checking email and Facebook for inspiration.

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  7. David, I enjoyed meeting you at the AHMM/EQMM cocktail reception a couple of years back and hope to run into you again at some writers function somewhere. I'll miss your posts, but will look forward to seeing your stories in Alfred and Ellery. Best wishes, R.T.

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  8. David, our readers, we as a group, and I personally are going to miss you. I not only enjoyed your stories, but your stories about your stories. Frankly, I hope you keep hanging around our corporate office. Thanks for the ride, David!

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  9. Take care, David! Thanks for the fun, and I'll probably see you on Facebook! :)

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  10. Well, dang! I hate it when one of us leaves. David, I've definitely enjoyed your posts and will miss them. Hugs to you from afar! Visit when you can.

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  11. Thanks for the send-off everyone.

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  12. We'll miss you, David. Hope to run into you at a conference some time.
    --Dixon

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