Final Thought

When a sports bar isn’t a sports bar

Every month, Final Thought | September 1, 2017

Hey, owners, remember the fundamentals of the game. Editor’s note: This story is based on true events. Many people think a sports bar is all about getting together with a large, raucous group of people to cheer on a team, drink lots of beer, and eat lots of greasy food. It’s not. It’s about the freakin’ game. Don’t get my drink first, don’t offer me…

Back To School Time!

Final Thought | August 1, 2017

Education is billed as a key strategy to changing lives . Thousands of students will be heading to school this month, and hopefully they’ll be inspired to make the most of their educational and extracurricular opportunities. Classes start Aug. 10 for those in Lake and Sumter counties public schools; Aug. 14 is the first school day at Lake Technical College; and Aug. 22 marks the…

Rage Against The Machine

Final Thought | July 1, 2017

Do as I say: Drop the phone and nobody gets hurt. I am not the Unabomber. This is not a manifesto against technology. It’s just a rant. Oh, sure, there’s no denying the many benefits of modern technology—or the many annoyances. Try to remember those sane days when “text” wasn’t a verb, “selfie” had not yet been derived from “selfish,” people were smarter than their phones,…

Visualize being clutter free

Final Thought | June 1, 2017

When you buy a new purse, give away a purse. There are many ways to avoid too much clutter. Do you ever feel you want to get more organized, but struggle with where to begin? Do you buy many of the same things over time because you can’t find what you already have? Are there narrow “goat trails” in your house to walk through between…

Women who inspire

Final Thought, Uncategorized | May 1, 2017

Some think they have to wait for inspiration. I believe you carry it around with you from the people you’ve met along the way. These women inspire me in more ways than I can say. Story: Leigh Neely // Photo: Fred Lopez Finding inspiration is something writers think about often. You may witness a simple act that triggers something in your imagination to create a…

Feline Politics

Every month, Final Thought | April 1, 2017

Story: Mary Ann Desantis One is black; the other is white and gray. One is conservative and quite picky about his food. He’s also quite selective about the people he lets get close. The other is liberal about everything, including treats (one is never enough) and people. Anyone who comes to the door can pick her up. Meet my rescue cats: Ernie, the conservative, and…

She’s got the whole world in her hands

Final Thought | March 1, 2017

Story: Rheya Tanner To the people in my hometown, I’m what you might call a legend. I’m known as a traveler, a beast tamer. I have seen every jagged corner of the country, and I’ve tested my mettle against anyone who’s offered a challenge. My journey was not without its failures, but I worked my way to the top. I am a champion. At least…

Thanks for the memories

Final Thought | February 1, 2017

The song “Reunited” by Peaches & Herb brings back memories and so do reunions. Story: Debbi Kiddy Whether it’s a family, high school, college, military, or some other reunion, reuniting with those from our past stirs emotions and memories. Most are fond and happy recollections of school days, such as the special people and groups we joined in athletics, music, service, or social clubs. Some…

Widowhood calls for embracing a ‘new normal’

Every month, Final Thought | January 1, 2017

Story: Theresa Campbell A new year can be exciting, yet for widows like me, it’s the start of another year filled with an unexplainable feeling that’s hard to put into words. “We are dealing with an emptiness that we never could have planned for. We don’t have what we thought we might have for the rest of our lives,” says my friend Cindy Brewer. She’s…

Don’t Let the Holidays Get You Down

Every month, Final Thought | December 1, 2016

I used to love watching the holiday episodes of “Roseanne.” They were always chaotic, family-centered meals that closely resembled the ones in the house where I grew up. We had some real characters (as most families do), and I have memories of some great holiday meals. Though my father had only one brother, my mother came from a family of 10 children. Each of those…