Happy 2019, Dear Readers. Here’s wishing you all a wonderful, happy, healthy new year.
As this is traditionally the time of the year for new beginnings and resolutions, I have decided to end the blog. This will be the last post of Letter From Elba.
This was neither a rash nor easy decision. I have been thinking about this for some time. But as my very smart interior designer Bruce Gregga once told me, “It’s better to leave the party early.”
And it’s been a heck of a party. I started writing the blog in August of 2012 and there have been 512 posts and 5,876 comments.
(And btw, your smart and witty comments have added immeasurably.)
Some of you have been with me from Day One. But no matter when you joined up, no girl ever had a more loyal bunch of readers.
It just seems like the right time to move on and start something new.
Thank you one and all for letting me into your iPhones, computers, iPads, and I hope, your hearts.
And don’t worry. I’m going to leave the blog up until August at least. If you’re so inclined, you can always read me again or get in touch. I hope that you will.
It’s been my very great privilege to be a part of your lives.
God speed and thank you, my dear friends.
Yours, Ellen
I will miss my Sunday & Thursday greetings from you but all good things must come to an end. Thank goodness for email, texting,etc so we can keep in touch!. Hope you enjoy that extra free time in your life. We will keep in touch 810! Love you!!!
Thank you, dear friend. We will just have to see each other IRK. Hope the family is blooming and thanks fir Benny the best MTM this Rhoda ever knew. 😘
I shall miss you, Ellen, more for your analysis of the world around us and less for your reflections on your teenage years.
Best wishes to you in the future. I hope you will continue writing and let me know if you decide to continue communicating with me and others in some way in the future.
I feel privileged to have been able to learn from you. Best wishes.
Thanks you, Jack. Your support through the years and kind words now mean so very much. Wishing you all good health and happiness as we move on to the next chapter.
Ellen, I understand the wisdom of leaving before it stops being fun. I have loved reading your perspective on life. And I especially love your humor. I will miss you a lot but will look for you on the street.
Happy Trails to you.
Thanks, Sherry! And thanks for all your support and comments through the years. I hope to bump into your and those enchanting 🐶🐶 soon. Love to all.
Too soon!
Thanks, Rocket. But onward and upward. Be sure to ask ML what my new project might be. 🥂
You’ll be greatly missed Ellen. Hoping your new adventure brings you happiness and joy.
Thank you so much, Lynn. Your kind thoughts mean so to me at this time. I will miss you all. ❤️
I guess we’ll have to use email to talk movie trivia, best hamburgers,
grandkids. Or we’ll just do more lunches. Been great being part of the Elba family.
And I did get to relearn Roman Numerals.
Mitch- We’ll always have Beinlich’s. Thanks, my friend, for all your great comments. When the movie chips were down, I knew you’d come through! See you somewhere soon. 👍
Oh No …But Why???…
This is the only blog I read. Will I have the opportunity to read more of your wisdom in the future? This makes me sad
Your devoted friend.
Dear devoted friend: You were my very first commentator and I will never forget your loyalty and support from the get go. Time to do other projects. But you and I will never end. Thanks for everything. 😘
Ellen, would love to know which blog received the most comments
so we all could reread it.
I will check on that, Mitch. But it might have been the one about hot dogs, Italian beef or Fanny’s in Evanston. We like to eat around here!
Ellen. Thanks so much for creating this community. Your words were gifts that brightened our lives. I too have never read another blog. But I feel lucky I read yours.
Barbara Gorr Mutnick
Barbara, I’m touched. Really, thank you for taking the time to tell me this. I feel so lucky to have wonderful readers like you. Truly blessed.
Thanks for the memories! You have a unique way of contextualizing any topic with movie clips and photos and thereby creating a community of shared experience.
Thank you!
And thank you, my friend. Your comments were always on point and so glad you had my back on so many different issues. I will be seeing you as soon as the weather gets nicer! Love to all the Kramers.
Can we still have lunch? Hope the only reason for stopping is that you have something else planned to keep you energized. Loved reading your blog but cherished your friendship more. Happy Trails
Thanks, Jess. And I’m on at our regular hang any time you are. I cherish- no past tense- your friendship, too. And we still have lots of world problems yet to be solved. Text me. And thanks. 🥂
512 posts…that’s a ton of posts.
if you hit 512 home runs, you’d almost have as many as Ernie Banks.
512 tattoos would put you in the Dennis Rodman category
512 trips to Eagle River Wisconsin would tie you with Elliott and Denny.
512 Chicago Dogs, Deep Dish Pizzas, Cheeseburgers and Italian Beefs would put you into Nirvana.
512 is almost the same as the number of times you’ve been married.
512 is the number of old dresses, old photos and old yearbooks you must have in your closet.
And 512 is the number of tears I am shedding lamenting your retirement from Letter From Elba.
I’ll miss reading your writing. Good luck in your next adventure.
Add one more: 512 reasons I have the cleverest and kindest friends a gal could have. Thank you, Steve. 513 times over.
Although I was basically a non contributor I was an avid fan and appreciated your slant on life. Thank you for your enriching the lives of all your readers. You will be missed.
Denny Rosen
Aw, Denny. Thank you for those kind words. And hey! When do I get invited to Beinlich’s? Love to Sandy. Let’s all of us- and Darlene- go out when she comes back in town.
It’s been a great run and a fabulous time! Always leave them laughing Ellen! Looking forward to your next iteration. All the best, G
Thanks, my friend. Yoir cumnents added quite a bit to many a post. Have a great winter and can the next iteration be at Gibson’s outside for lunch?
Ya think?! Let’s plan June😀
Deal. Tommy can sit outside.
Congratulations on a job very very well done. I read you constantly and always. You’re funny, clever, insightful, and interesting. I know what kind of work goes into writing and into each word, so it’s a true labor of love……..even though at times it’s a true headache. Put your feet up, at least for awhile. You deserve it. Xo leslie
Thanks so very much fot the kind words, Leslie. I’m honored that you gave me some of your precious time- and wise insights. Here’s hoping to meet you again IRL some day soon. ❤️
Thanks so much for sharing your unique wisdom Ellen. You have truly been a large part of my handheld (and desktop) entertainment. Love your insights. They will forever be a part of my DNA. Hoping for you to find joy in your next diversion. And may it be something you want to write about. Love Dicky
Thanks my friend. And if I do a screenplay, will you do the soundtrack? Hope to see you at something somewhere soon. Love to the clan. ❤️🎼🎸
You and your blog will be missed as will your insights and entertainment.
Thanks for your support, X-1. Thinking about the next chapter. Have a wonderful 2019. To be continued…😊
You are so talented and your blog was only another reflection of your incredible abilities. I, too, have been a silent blog participant. But I have so enjoyed all the delightful interchange. Only the best to you Ellen – today and always! Thanks for sharing so much with all of us!
Peggy
Peggy! Thanks! You are too kind. We go back a long time and you anyways were the nicest girl in school- except for Ellen Woloshin. 😊 Hope to bump into you somewhere fun soon. Love to Ray and your clan. ❤️
Gracias!!!!!
De nada, mi amigo. Thanks for being a pal. See you around the volley ball courts soon. 🏐
I have been off the grid for the last few days, so I just read your blog obit. I wasn’t there from the start, but loved connecting with a NT Indian from the past. Have a great new adventure and just know you will be missed from this old dog in Tucson.
Steve, you’ve been a great reader and commentor. I always loved your p.o.v.- though I was mostly jealous of your great weather. Who knows? Maybe one day, we shall meet IRL. Meanwhile, wishing you all the best in 2019.
So sorry to see you go. I was a latecomer to your blog but have enjoyed it greatly. From my first days at Avoca I thought highly of you.
If you ever make it to SoCal feel free to email or Facebook. We can meet for coffee.
Thanks so much, Barry. We do go back a long way. And you’re on. Same goes for you- if you’re ever foolish enough to come back to our lousy weather. Happy everything in 2019 to you and yours.