Husband in line at the store teases his wife they better stop making out or I will post about them on the blog

To the couple yesterday, thanks for the laugh and it was very nice to meet you too.

I was checking my phone when I heard, "We better stop making out or the headline will be couple makes out at grocery store."

I teased them back about posting on the blog and maybe retweeting to national news outlets. The husband didn't miss a beat and quipped back. People around us broke into smiles. Errands are tedious and and especially this week, this light hearted moment was welcome.

All week long, I had several people from different walks of life and different parts of the County come up and thank me for my blog. This happens often  and I appreciate every unexpected conversation. It means a lot that you take time out from your busy day.

Love me or hate me, you have heard of me; 1strangers know who I am.

Anyone can get a site to show up with paid google ads, anyone can do it playing safe working for established outlets that have been around for years, anyone can do it in their cliquey small town where they grew up with a guaranteed paycheck, anyone can follow up regularly on scoops and pass it off as their work and anyone can be popular by overlooking certain stories that have financial consequences.

This week provided perspective and a good reminder.  The haters, the trolls, the critics, especially the anonymous cowards have an agenda and are a very small minority . The haters still read my blog, and they still care what I write. That is a testimonial from the haters.

The people that matter are those that value hard work, courage, reporting truth while taking on the establishment in a town where making ends meet is hard for most people. Now more than ever, independent reporting in this country is vital.

Most people who are kind have no idea of the personal challenges and the struggles I have been through for years. The haters do. Their actions speaks volumes about who they are.

The blog's subject matter is very intense, emotionally hard and draining. The people who are kind are what I chose to focus about Humboldt. Like the natural beauty and the great weather, they embody the goodness of Humboldt that should be highlighted more often.