The Ugly Duckling's Swan Song

Posted Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 7:39 PM

Old soldiers never die...they just fade away.

Back on November 30th of last year, I wrote the first of these little articles for this website. It has been fun, but one year is enough and now is the time to move on to something else. I have become involved with quite a few things over the past couple of months, which tend to consume a lot of my "free" time. I consider "free" time to be those non-sleeping hours in which I am not being paid.

This will be my last post and I'd like to thank Chris Pruett for the opportunity to have done this and all of you who have commented either via this site or to me personally. I wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful life.

See you on the course.

Ol' Simmons

Comments
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I liked your Blog so much!

Reminded me of going places with you and Chris and Jeremy's Dad when you were small. How I laughed at your antics till I cried tears of happiness. The two of you were great.

I will miss reading the articles.

-- Posted by JoniBl on Tue, Dec 16, 2008, at 6:10 AM

YES we will miss this blog!

-- Posted by silerCityDude on Wed, Dec 10, 2008, at 9:14 PM

Say it isn't so!! I will miss your wisdom, humor and perspective!! Good to see you this weekend!

-- Posted by weimgirl on Mon, Dec 8, 2008, at 10:33 AM

Simmons went out on his own terms, but Barry I'm not so sure of.

-- Posted by EggMan on Mon, Dec 8, 2008, at 9:30 AM

I will always have the memory of you in a pair snug fitting jeans.

You surely have a book ready to be written. You mentioned West Point stories as a topic you might consider. Anything in the works?

-- Posted by instigator474 on Sun, Dec 7, 2008, at 8:54 AM

Keith, I sure will miss your stories. You are the only reason I read the paper! Take care and stop by. I'll probably see ya at the boat! g

-- Posted by HillTopRanch on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 8:09 PM

Love the red and white striped stockings. Come see me on Christmas eve :)

-- Posted by drivin'missdaisy on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 4:28 PM

Say it ain't so, Joe

-- Posted by AgingShortstop on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 12:58 PM

Congratulations. You're going out on top, Simmons. And, without question, you are the most successful Blogger in the history of The Linton Daily World.

Sure, you may have lost a keystroke or two but you can still peck out a decent Blog.

I like to think of you in the same breath as the Greatest HR Slugger of All Time -- Barry Bonds! Barry layed down that black maple bat just as you put away the plastic keyboard a few seasons before all skills were lost. But you both did it your way.

Hey, maybe there is a chance you could come back as a Designated Columnist with someone! Word on the street as it that The Free Press has scouted you.....

-- Posted by BloomburgBanter on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 7:43 AM

What a great bunch of folks, I sincerely hope you all stay that way. Thanks.

I was up reading around 4 this morning when I got a hankering for a french vanilla cappucinno. I moseyed on down to the Picnic Basket and as I pulled in I saw the happiest looking balloon snowman that I have ever seen, propped up on the outside bench. I've never understood why snowmen, whose life expectancy in Indiana is somewhat near that of a mayfly, always appeared to be so happy. And this one was really smiling.

Upon exiting the car, I glanced to my left and saw a deflated balloon Santa folded over the table, which sits just outside the door. I couldn't help but think how Frosty and Santa must have both aggressively pursued that same piece of real estate and Frosty won.

Just remember Garth, if you walk into a doctor's office and the plants are dead, you might want to get a second opinion.

-- Posted by simmons on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 7:27 AM

I twill miss this terribly.

-- Posted by silerCityDude on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 9:54 PM

So many songs have been quoted within the friendly confines of this blog, how about a couple more?

"Joltin' Joe has left and gone away, hey, hey, hey,

...hey, hey, hey."

"...just come on back, if you ever want to try ag'in..."

And one line from Caddyshack, "Well, we're waiting!"

If you do get the itch to write again, we'll be waiting. I have enjoyed reading your unique slant on life and the interconnectiveness you find in historical events and people.

-- Posted by Chris&Jeremy'sDad on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 8:49 PM

The best to ya, Keith. And the best to all the interesting folks who responded to your blog for the pleasurable interaction. Happy trails to y'all!

-- Posted by hopeanddust on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 7:00 PM

"You can't leave. All the plants will die." - John Winger

-- Posted by GarthHudson on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 12:52 PM

You will be missed Simmons.

-- Posted by EggMan on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 12:44 PM

OH NO SIMMONS...Global warming has struck again.

-- Posted by Mr. Robato on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 7:47 AM

Ol' Simmons I wish you wouldn't leave us, but I can't thank you enough for the memories!! Your articles were great. I will see you on the course if I don't see you in your garage first...Signed..High Fade

-- Posted by CHatton on Thu, Dec 4, 2008, at 9:22 PM

Constructive and Imaginary Ambiguity

Keith Sims

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