All good things must come to an end

Unfortunately, this is my final column for the Star-News, I'm sad to say. I've enjoyed writing it for that last 20-some years. It's been fun and I've heard a lot of very positive comments.

But everything must come to an end at some point, and I guess this is it this column.

It's been fun to write. I just tried to add a little humor to my readers' days, and from readers' remarks, I think I did all right. 

This life has been an adventure. I told this story previously, but when I graduated from Kewaunee High School, myself and three other girls got an apartment in Green Bay, where I found a job at A.C. Nielsen. We all found jobs and were enjoying our independence.

One freezing morning in January, we got up and wondered out loud why we stayed in Wisconsin.

We were 18 years old and thought we knew all the answers, so we discussed where we could go. Florida was out because we heard it was buggy and then someone suggested California. Then we chose Santa Monica, because it was on the ocean and we were raised near Lake Michigan. 

We knew we had to save up some money to go and that took until September of that year.

So, at 19 years old, the four of us got on a Greyhound bus, bound for California. The bus driver asked where we were going and we excitedly told him, “California.” He said something that I never forgot — “You had better be careful. The green is showing.”

Well, that was 50 years ago and we are still all around, so I guess we heeded his advice.

I was out there for six and a half years, and when my mom got sick, the company I worked for, Liberty Mutual Insurance, transferred me to Chicago, closer to home.

I hated Chicago. I thought people were rude, and I was there less than a year and drove home every weekend.

After my mom passed away, my dad asked if I could come home and work in the family business, a clothing store. I agreed, moved back to Kewaunee and have been here ever since.

Unlike most young women, I had little if any interest in being married, and consequently I didn't. Too independent, I guess.

I've had a lot of good friends, many who are now gone. I've had a lot of good times and have enjoyed the ride. But I guess now is the time to ride off into the sunset.

So, thank you to all my loyal readers for your comments and for letting me know that my work was appreciated. Have a great rest of your life. We never know what's in store for the future, but I hope it's kind to everyone. It's been fun!

Barb Ludlow is a former Kewaunee County reporter. Email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Barb Ludlow's last column: Thank you, readers, it's been a great ride