Three of the top stress-inducing life events are, in some order, marriage, moving, and changing jobs.

 

I have experienced each in the last six months.

 

Don’t misunderstand. I am not complaining.  I feel incredibly blessed to be in the position I’m in and to have the opportunities I do. I married the woman of my dreams, joined an exceptional group of people at The LaGrange Daily News and am moving to this wonderful city.  But the fact remains, major change can be stressful.

 

Which is where you come in.

 

Last week, I received at least seven individual messages from people in the LaGrange community, extending a warm hand of friendship. Peggy Pulver was kind enough to invite me to her church. Hoke Thomas reached out to invite me to stop by the Taste of Lemon restaurant to say hello and Karin Thompson invited me to her home to have dinner with her and her husband.

 

Jake Behr as well has been a major blessing this week. Mr Behr, thank you for taking the time to invite me to Rotary Club and introduce me to all of the fine people there. Your kindness will not soon be forgotten, and has been a bright spot in my week.

 

And to Jim Thornton and Speer Burdette, two busy men with important matters to tend to constantly, thank you for taking the time to meet me and provide words of encouragement and guidance. I look forward to getting to know you both better in the coming months.

 

These men and women represent just a few of the people who reached out to me this week, I wish I could thank you all individually. You have shown me the true meaning of hospitality, and I can’t fully express how much that has meant.

 

You have helped turn what can be a difficult, stressful time in anyone’s life into a positive and exciting week of welcome for me and my family.

 

I am thrilled to be in this great city. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for the warm welcome.

 

My top priority in the coming weeks is to get to know the people of LaGrange and to learn from each your priorities for the city and for the newspaper. Your input is essential to our producing a newspaper that reflects and reports the life and culture of our great city.  I look forward to Monday morning and the opportunity to meet each of you.

 

Baker Ellis is publisher of The LaGrange Daily News.  He can be reached by phone at 706.407.2657 or by email at baker.ellis@lagrangenews.com.