Thank you.

Thank you all very much.

There are so many other things you could be doing right now.

Reading The Farmville Herald is just one of them, but here we are, in your hands or on your screen.

Your choice is so deeply appreciated by all of us.

The competition for your time is fierce. We know that. There are hundreds of more channels on your satellite televisions and radios. Social media is pulling you this way and that. Your jobs. Your families. Your household responsibilities. Volunteer work. And leisure activities-when you find the time-galore.

Your decision to spend these moments with us is not something we will ever take for granted.

This relationship with you, this sharing of information, of thoughts and words and images, is everything to us. Nobody understands better than us that we are nothing without you.

I have no idea whether a tree falling in the woods makes a sound if nobody is there to hear it but I do understand quite clearly that a word unread is silence itself.

Your eyes.

Your minds.

Your hearts.

All of you complete our sentences, our paragraphs, our stories and our columns.

So thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts and the bottom of our “inkwells.” We will be here when you turn to us. Tune in at the time of your choosing. Take us with you. Put us down and pick us up again. We make no demands. If you are doing something else at the top of the hour you have not missed us. Don't stop what you're doing. We're not going to withhold anything from you if you fail to tune in at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m.

Companionship is like that. The best relationships make no demands on those who enjoy each other's company.

We're here, 24-7. Nonstop.

If the baby's diaper needs changing, no problem, go ahead. The timer sounds on the oven? Your child needs help with homework? You're off to workout at the Y? Go to it. Enjoy. We'll be right where you left us.

Read us at the time of your own choosing.

No appointment necessary.

Put us down.

Pick us up.

Fold us over.

Share us with a friend.

Cut us out and put us on your refrigerator or bulletin board.

We are honored by any and every moment you choose to share with us.

You complete us.

-JKW-