It is finally time to retire

Yes, it's finally time to retire and time to take care of the health of one Mr. Howard Lestrud.
I have retired before from my newspaper career but was coaxed out of retirement by the current owner/publisher Rick Bussler of the Steele County Times.
Alan Van Ormer, had fallen on an icy day and suffered a concussion. He was going to take a medical leave. Rick asked if I could pinch hit for a month or two and write a story or two for each issue of the Times.
I said yes, and here it is six years later, and I am busier than ever.
Somebody tapped me on the shoulder on Oct. 16 and said, "Howard, you have to slow down."
That tap on the shoulder came from a stroke that took my speech away for just a short time. I was one very lucky person to have survived a stroke that could have taken my speech permanently and also caused physical paralysis.
Thanks to a loving wife and a quickly responding ambulance crew, I was whisked to the Emergency Room of the Owatonna Hospital. A number of tests were taken including an MRI and a MRA the next day on the recommendation of my neurologist.
After the tests were completed, my neurologist called me from his car and told me that I had suffered a stroke, not a TIA, which is a warning for a stroke, but a real stroke.
Since that time my doctor has placed me on some medications and ordered some exploratory tests.
Needless to say, I was scared after learning that news. I'm still scared but have complete faith in my medical providers.
I have decided to "hang it up" and enter retirement again. I'm also fighting Parkinson's Disease, a diagnosis given me three years ago.
Will I write again? I hope so.
Not to sound like a bragger, but I think, as a veteran of nearly 60 years in journalism, I think I have written some my best pieces since I have been on staff of the Steele County Times.
I am very thankful to Rick Bussler for giving me this opportunity to write about small town news.
Blooming Prairie is a small town but one of the most active and caring small communities where I have lived. Judy and I have met some beautiful people during our six years here. These are people we love to call our dear friends.
We are not leaving but finally retiring. This will finally give us time to kick back and enjoy the benefits of living in a small town.
What is really rewarding is that I grew up on a small dairy farm just seven miles southwest of Blooming Prairie. My wife Judy also spent much of her young life just 12 miles to the west in Ellendale.
Again, I say thank you to some fine people who have allowed me to write about them. They are all small-town heroes.
Next week, I will choose the top 10 stories I covered during my six years at the Steele County Times. I will also choose the top 10 columns I feel I have written.
This leads to a proper conclusion. Yes, I hope to continue to write a weekly column called Reflections.