"We're losing Tim Sample's column. How about you writing an editorial and we'll ask Joe Gelarden to write a column to replace Sample's?"

"Sure," this editor said without hesitation.

I've had six weeks to prepare for this moment and it finally hit me — I have written very few opinion pieces in the 28 years I have been editor of this newspaper. The thought of doing so on a weekly basis scares me. Twenty-eight years of writing objective stories and making sure our reporters' stories are objective is not the best training for an opinion writer. But as I move into my 29th year — starting last week — I'll give it a shot.

I'm a "the glass is half full" type of guy when it comes to viewing the world around me. Yes, there are many problems in the world, in the country, as well as right here in the state of Maine and the Boothbay region, but getting consumed by them would probably send me off the deep end.

So, readers, don't expect a lot of ranting and raving about the problems in the world/country/state/region. I am going to be doing more complimenting than complaining. If everything goes right, I could retire within the next decade, so why get myself all upset when readers come knocking on my door all bent out of shape because of a slew of negative editorials.

Having spent almost all of my 58 years living in this region (about half and half between Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay), I have seen a lot more good than bad.

Yes, there are squabbles between citizens and government, neighbors vs. neighbors, state mandates on schools, bad ideas, and more, but most of the time, the spats are worked out through discussion and compromises. Thankfully, our crime rate (knock on wood) remains low, our region has been blessed with physical beauty, and we have a wonderful citizenry that volunteers to help at the drop of a hat.

I will try not to complain about the weather. Everyone does that and, really, what good does it do? Like Mr. Gelarden and Mrs. Brewer have done in the past, I will look at the positive points about the weather.

Local sports have been a big part of my life and the community's, so I will write about them. Local education and events, reporters' experiences, family and friends' stories, and humorous and serious moments in the lives of our readers will be illuminated in this space as well.

And, if I run dry of ideas ... well, there are plenty of regular letter writers who would love to "tell it like they think it is" in a guest column.

So here we go ....