When You Least Expect It Something Happens

A few Fridays nights ago I wandered into the Gulu-Gulu for a beer before heading home. It was after eight pm and the place was packed to the gills. There were two seats at the bar close to the kitchen so I grabbed one and ordered an IPA.

The place was buzzing, my beer was cold and the band was setting up. I opened my MacBook to check on a few things and to tweak a short story I've been writing.

A young lady approached from the left and asked if she could take up space in what may have been the only available seat in the house. I gestured for her to make herself comfortable and went back to work.

She put her Apple on the bar and said to me, "I'm glad I'm not the only geek in the place tonight." Despite my taking minor offense at being called a geek, after all I am the Great Bald One I chose to give the young lady the benefit of the doubt and not treat her to a verbal evisceration.

After a few minutes I noticed that she was looking at the Salem Patch on her screen. I mentioned to her that I had recently discovered this new online newspaper and was impressed with what I had seen. Turns out that Aubry (yes we had done introductions) is the editor.

Conversation ensued. I mentioned I did some writing. She asked what I was working on. I told her.

Next thing I know Aubry is online looking at this blog and checking out some old columns I had written for the Salem Gazette.

"I want you to write for me" she said. "

Aubry followed that with, "I will pay you to write for me."

It took a moment for me to fully digest what she had said.

Needless to say I now write for the Salem Patch through a contract with AOL. The Patch system is their baby. There are those in the newspaper industry who think the Patch is the devil that will kill the print medium. That may or may not be the case.

This Saturday the third installment of my weekly column, "A Voice In Salem" will run. I am also accepting assignments as they are offered and Patch has already run two of those. Beginning this week is a five-part series detailing how different organizations in Salem are assisting families in need over the Christmas season.

Check it out when you can and be sure to let me know what you think by either commenting on the article itself or emailing me.

http://salem.patch.com/