A long term relationship

In the early seventies my first job out of college, the second try at higher education was successful, was managing a Walden Bookstore. Actually, that period of my life could be considered getting an advance degree, that job gave me so many opportunities to learn about the world. One of the side items of this job was to keep up on all new books and what better place that the New York Times weekly book review. We sold it separately each week and I began my long relationship with the NYT.

Gradually, I found the Sunday Travel section as I was always dreaming of the day when I would be rich enough to travel. I started buying the Sunday paper just to read the travel section. I made mental notes of the places, the best priced hotels, the monuments not to miss, the little known treasures, the best travel deals, the endless list began to grow. I sometimes would cut out pieces that were featured and saved them knowing that I would someday need it. At this time, the NYT's travel section was perhaps 12 to 20 pages weekly. It was my favorite reading of the week.

Over time, I expanded my interest to the rest of the paper and enjoyed the idea that this paper represented the best of paper writing in the country. It was a paper read by all the leaders of the world and the editorials were discussed and quoted everywhere.

Where young couple of society were honeymooning, the latest plays on Broadway and what artists were on exhibit at the MET all because part of my weekly information meal. I lived beyond my physical world of Green Bay.

This relationship has had it difficult moments as when we week-ended in Door County, I learned you have to reserve a paper at the gas station or there were none to buy. Then a few years ago the NYT decided that Judith Miller was a star reporter and the paper became an extension of the propaganda machine for the war effort after 9/11. I terminated our relationship when Bill Kritol was hired to write for them. The paper had lost it focus of being the fourth estate, in my opinion.

Well, time and patience has bought me back. Those two writers are no longer on the staff and my memories of so many enjoyment moments, I gave myself a Christmas prize this year and I now get the home delivery daily of the New York Times.

Our relationship continues.