I have some good news for you today.

At least it’s good news for me.

After a long life and eons as an editor of newspapers and magazines, I am privileged to celebrate my birthday today.

Readers some times ask me when I’m going to retire ... or if they are going to have to carry me out feet first. They have the grace to laugh when they ask that.

It’s not a bad idea. The ancient Spartan warriors considered it an honor to be brought home lifeless on their shields.

The Vikings considered it a sure ticket to Valhalla to die in battle with your mates.

THINKING BACK ON more than 80 years in this life and more than 60 of them editing and coaching editors, reporters and even a few publishers who would listen, I’m happy that it worked out like this.

I stumbled into newspapers following Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Marion Hargrove, Ben Hecht, Charles McArthur and others who perfected their craft as journalists. My goal was to one day write great books. God had other ideas.

As a social person who likes people, God helped me avoid a lonely life as a book writer. I’ve written my share of books and plan to write a few more before its all over.

But local news and community journalism has been far more exciting and fulfilling that anything I can imagine life would have been like as just a book writer.

I’VE BEEN BLESSED to have learned from many mentors. Outside of my family, the first to have made a great impact was Lloyd Huntington at The State newspaper.

Lloyd was looking for an experienced editor and I was looking for a newspaper to edit. In our initial conversation, Lloyd shared his vision. He saw a newspaper that clearly cared about its readers, embraced them rather than holding them at arm’s length, telling its stories in words they could relate to, simplifying a complicated world, using the word “you” a lot.

Lloyd saw a need to report accurately, fairly and unsparingly on what the rascals in the legislature were trying to get away with. At City Hall and the Richland County Council offices, too.

This is a political town, he said, and the politicians some times get carried away with power. They forget that they were first and foremost elected public servants.

Over the years, that has not changed.

As Abraham Lincoln observed, to test a man’s character, give him a little authority.

WORKING THERE WAS one of the great experiences of my life. I grew as an editor and met the girl of my dreams there, too.

We shared a lot in common.

She was an editor, now a publisher.

Then Lloyd suffered a stroke and died in the hall one morning and the tone of the newspaper changed. We left.

Coming back to South Carolina in 1984 led to the greatest moments in our lives.

We had dreamed of publishing our own newspaper and living on Lake Murray.

Here we are more than 35 years later, the longest we have lived anywhere.

Please email your favorite birthday stories to me at JerryBellune@yahoo.com

Need some inspiration?

Inspire yourself or a loved one with a personally-autographed copy of Your Life’s Great Purpose by Jerry Bellune for only $20.

Call 359-7633.