Like a bad penny, she just won’t go away...

I’m back, Greene County, did you miss me?

Like a streak of bad luck or a kink in your neck from sleeping on it funny, I just won’t go away and stay gone, sorry about that.

I enjoyed my time in the Pacific Northwest, winding up as house manager of a seven-bedroom house in Tacoma, Washington which housed 10 adult tenants, two adult dogs who were often dyed different colors with cruelty-free vegetable dyes, three rambunctious puppies with no common sense and razor-sharp teeth and two cats, one outdoor and one indoor (my best friend Meep).

The tenants of McGuff Manor were an eclectic bunch, ranging in age from 15 to 70 years old and including a retired business manager who traveled through the Mideast during his career, a Mexican-American artist, a recently widowed woman who sadly passed away during my time there, an energetic and creative landlord and at least one bonafide sociopath with ADD who barely functioned as the house maintenance man. These characters will all appear in my upcoming novel, Trapped In Tacoma.

I got a call out of the blue from Christy at GCDW one day, suggesting I apply for the recently-vacated editor position here, and with the inclusion of a very nice salary offer, I packed up the U-Box and headed East once again.

I found a home here easily, thanks to a good friend, and before my first day was done I was equipped with kitchen items, a bed, a TV, other furniture and even a loaned vehicle!

I am eternally grateful to you all: Christy, Sabrina, Rachael, Rylan, Becky, Deb, Ryan, Kegan, Angel, Paul, Emma, Grant and Bri. Without you guys and your kind thoughtfulness I would be shivering in a snowbank and bored out of my mind.

Instead, I walk around with a smile in my heart, food in my belly and a future worth heading boldly into. Thank you, friends.

Patti is once again the Editor of the Greene County Daily World. She has returned to the mighty Midwest to slay dragons, vanquish would-be conquerors and whatever else comes along that seems fun. She can be reached at pattippdanner@gmail.com.