Opinion : Ya'll are just so sweet

I want to say again a heartfelt "thank you" for the many cards, notes, and donations that you have all made toward the Vinton Today rebuild project. I went into the post office to mail off the advertising bills for June, figuring there might be a few letters in the box and I'd grab those as well.

I opened the box to a handful of letters. I was totally surprised! I was telling my daughter that this is such a weird occupation. For the most part, I take in the email, repackage it into articles, send it out over the internet, and move to the next story. The idea that people actually like it still tickles me.

I often give a blank look when someone says, "I loved that story about..." and I can't even remember what it was that I wrote in the article. Right now there have been well over 42,000 stories put out on the website, and I think that's probably not counting three years on another server. That's a ton of stories!

That's also why carpal tunnel and elbow problems will keep me from handwriting thank you notes to all of you...which goes against everything in me, and that is not the way that mom raised me. I'm really sorry. Something about 45 years on keyboards will do it to you. Ironically, typing a note here is much easier and efficient.

The small donations and the large ones equally touch my heart. Thank you so much for your generosity. I was fascinated by the return addresses and the many corners of the country that read Vinton Today. Many thanked me for being their connection to "home." Some said it's the first website they open every morning. Some wait for the daily email to find out what's happening. then there were the many Vinton and local town addresses. I just shake my head in amazement. I still can't wrap my head around it after 15 years.

While the job really is a fun one, and something that is both work and entertaining on this end, I feel truly blessed to have all of you as readers. It's hard to picture all of you from here. But each note I read today made me smile and yes, cry at the post office.

You are all really, such a blessing and the notes you wrote, well, they will be snuggled in with the drawings from the grandkids, and baby pictures of my adult children (I'm sure my kids just rolled their eyes!)

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart to all of you amazing, awesome, wonderful and sweet people. I really can't thank you enough for stepping up once again. You really are the best.

With a heart full of appreciation,

Valerie