Rise Up. Live Strong.

For many years I have told myself that I am a writer. That is what I was meant to do. Yes, I wrote scripts for broadcasts news at one time. And I studied journalism, writing, the First Amendment and news ethics. But I never seemed to have the time to pursue anything grander than making an hourly wage.

And now, someone has attacked fellow journalists in a crazed and demented state of mind. Only they were real journalists. Talented. Beloved by their readers. A-number one at their craft and their dedication. Human beings who had absolutely nothing to do with this madman's grievance against the community newspaper that serves the public well.

These journalists did their jobs because they loved them. They were involved and committed to them, and fully engaged in their lives as citizens, as well as their desire and talent to share what they learned about their neighbor citizens in the community with genuineness and respect.

They represent goodness in the profession of journalism at every level. They will be missed by the people who loved them, knew them and appreciated their contributions to their community.

Humbled and embarrassed to even have thought myself a peer among the honorable victims of this tragedy, I can only hope to have learned from this that we must rise up. Do what we love and have a passion for. And not stand back and wait for life to come and get us. It is simply not long enough.

Rest In Peace, you honorable deliverers of newspaper stories.