The local paper reports about the local community with an occasional glimpse of the larger world. Makes sense since we’re all connected. Pretending we live in an actual bubble would defeat our natural inclination to extend ourselves beyond our comfort zones. Our paper provides a nice balance of school, town politics, history, citizens, both living and recently passed, the arts, and a touch of the titillating gawk. Without the advertisers there would be no bi-weekly rag.

It warms me to think of the many fires The Highlander has helped to start over the years. The many s’mores toasted thanks to Allen Wicken’s column, and maybe one or two of his articles burned by some readers as editorial statements. Sure beats having to write an actual letter to the editor. Thank you, Allen, for your many years and hundreds of articles.

How many winter fires has The Highlander helped to start in wood stoves and fireplaces? How many families have gathered before the yellow flames of a fire begun by The Highlander, Christmas trees’ blinking lights, stockings hung over the fireplace haphazardly, the dog and cat lying together on the hearth? How many birdcages lined and tables covered for pumpkin carving with an old issue?

How many photo albums has The Highlander made it into? A wedding announcement, a play your child was in, an event you attended or were feted at, you photobombing the Street Dance, the Historical Society’s mention of your distant relatives, and so many parades. Between the camera and the ink, journalists consistently prove they write “history’s first rough draft.” The least we can do is pay them the occasional dollar to help keep them churning out content. And if you don’t like an article you are reading (hint) you do not have to read it. Move on to the real estate ads and ruminate about if you ever have a spare million dollars sitting around…

Thanks for taking a break from The Facebook to peruse your local paper and catch up on some bucolic ruminations. All that’s fit to print is news. Voltaire said, “God is like a comedian playing to an audience that’s afraid to laugh.” And newspapers can often be the mirror we hold up to ourselves. More times than not we revel in what we see, but there are times when what we see isn’t entirely beautiful. Don’t blame the mirror. Embrace what it reflects. It’s us in all our glory. And laugh, for God’s sake, laugh.

And once everyone in the house has had their chance with this issue, lay it by the kindling for later use. Maybe this article will start the fire that warms your winter night or gives the summer darkness light.