Note from Chuck Shepherd
Dear Weirdettes and Weirdbros,
I am retiring very soon from News of the Weird and Weird Universe.
My final weekly NotW column (my 1,534th) will be posted on July 2nd,
ending 29-plus years in the saddle (28 of them as distributed by
Universal Press Syndicate, now known as Universal UClick). (I don't
know what Universal's plans are for the column, and I am not part of that
discussion.) The reason for retiring is that I am simply exhausted, i.e.,
so many stories to process, slower-firing synapses with which to process
them. In fact, my synapses don't so much "fire" these days as they kinda
"lurch." I know that some of you (because you're kind) will be moved to
shout out a few nice words to me, but, as I say, I am exhausted and thus
may not (or may) respond. Just let me say that I will forever and ever be
so very grateful to readers (and editors) for allowing me this gig. Y'all
take care of yourselves.
Unsentimentally Yours,
Chuck Shepherd
WeirdNews at Earthlink dot net (until Dec 2017) / P. O. Box 18737,
Tampa FL 33679 (permanent)
I am retiring very soon from News of the Weird and Weird Universe.
My final weekly NotW column (my 1,534th) will be posted on July 2nd,
ending 29-plus years in the saddle (28 of them as distributed by
Universal Press Syndicate, now known as Universal UClick). (I don't
know what Universal's plans are for the column, and I am not part of that
discussion.) The reason for retiring is that I am simply exhausted, i.e.,
so many stories to process, slower-firing synapses with which to process
them. In fact, my synapses don't so much "fire" these days as they kinda
"lurch." I know that some of you (because you're kind) will be moved to
shout out a few nice words to me, but, as I say, I am exhausted and thus
may not (or may) respond. Just let me say that I will forever and ever be
so very grateful to readers (and editors) for allowing me this gig. Y'all
take care of yourselves.
Unsentimentally Yours,
Chuck Shepherd
WeirdNews at Earthlink dot net (until Dec 2017) / P. O. Box 18737,
Tampa FL 33679 (permanent)
Comments
Thanks for many years of Weird News.
Thanks for alerting the world to never trust a man with the middle name "Wayne" .
You will be missed, one of the first things I usually do on Mondays is check NOTW.
Retire well sir.
~Mick Wayne Ballin
Posted by Mick B on 06/15/17 at 12:43 PM
This one is for Jack Germond, John McLaughlin, Frosty Frances, Dick Vitale and Chuck Shepherd! Retire well, my friend and IAABO camp roomie.
Posted by Scott Fagen on 06/15/17 at 06:35 PM
You've brightened many a night for me. Enjoy your retirement. And come back every once in awhile. 😊
Posted by David Plechaty on 06/16/17 at 01:16 AM
Been reading your column since the days of underground papers.
Take care of yourself. Sounds as if you have a challenge ahead of you but have a hell-raising good retirement if at all possible.
Take care of yourself. Sounds as if you have a challenge ahead of you but have a hell-raising good retirement if at all possible.
Posted by Angie unduplicated on 06/18/17 at 12:19 PM
Well Sir, all good things must come to an end, and so it is for your column. Many of us will be in the same boat, missing that familiar old standby that we have come to anticipate and love. Rest easy and keep up the sense of humor.
Posted by GFinKS on 06/19/17 at 03:40 PM
Maazel tov, Mr. Shepherd! Thank you for your wicked discernment of humanity's finer ironies -- you have made the world, if not more authentic, at the very least most chuckle-worthy.
Here's wishing you a wonderfully weird retirement, and success in a gentle synapse-recovery project.
Here's wishing you a wonderfully weird retirement, and success in a gentle synapse-recovery project.
Posted by Barbara Ann Mahoney on 06/22/17 at 06:45 AM
I stumbled across a delightfully odd column in a newspaper over 25 years ago, found it again via America Online (free silver coasters for life!), and continued looking forward to its updates for the next twenty years. Thank you, sir, for being a fantastic addition to my quirky social discourse. Please enjoy retirement and the road ahead, as normal or weird as it may be.
Posted by Peter Allen on 07/04/17 at 12:09 AM
I have been utilizing your weekly reports as a source of material to lend some livelihood to my weekly 2 hour radio show "the eclectic circus" for more years than I care to recount.
I will greatly miss NOTW and I'm sure my fans (all 7 of them) will also find a drastic diminution in the content of my notes in the news. I, too, retired (from full time broadcasting) some 13 years ago. I'm certain you'll find retirement most refreshing.
At 82, I have found prepping for those 2 hours on-the-air worth the hours of research, which your column made a bit easier. So, perhaps you'll find a less stressful hobby but still occasionally send out outrageous news that simply must be shared. Carry on.
I will greatly miss NOTW and I'm sure my fans (all 7 of them) will also find a drastic diminution in the content of my notes in the news. I, too, retired (from full time broadcasting) some 13 years ago. I'm certain you'll find retirement most refreshing.
At 82, I have found prepping for those 2 hours on-the-air worth the hours of research, which your column made a bit easier. So, perhaps you'll find a less stressful hobby but still occasionally send out outrageous news that simply must be shared. Carry on.
Posted by David Howe on 07/04/17 at 09:54 AM
Thanks so much! I have laughed so many times through the years.
Posted by Jim Gullette on 07/05/17 at 08:31 AM
Started reading NotW before the internet (syndication in the Spokane Newspaper). Have since made it a Monday morning ritual when I arrive at work. Now I think I'll have to retire. Thanks for the many weekly infusions of "I'm not so weird".
Chuck, is your middle name "Wayne"?
Chuck, is your middle name "Wayne"?
Posted by Roy on 08/28/17 at 11:11 AM
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