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So Long 'That's What She Said!'

Opinion columnist bids farewell and thanks readers for the fun ride.

Each week for twenty-two months I was given the privilege of submitting random columns on everyday sightings we often overlook. I’ve written about paying-it-forward, the fragrant bathroom odor of a particular Wal-Mart, people-watching in casinos and quirky dog behavior... or any topic that sparked my interest.  

Fortunately, as the months progressed, so did my readership, allowing “That’s What She Said,” to be published in numerous Patch towns all over Connecticut. The beauty and gift of writing an opinion column are the wealth of topics screaming to be shared. How often do you really take a moment and laugh at simple, human, everyday living?

It’s the observations we witness when no one else is paying attention that I find most humorous and interesting. Just today, I saw an elderly couple bickering at Costco. It was as if no one else in their universe existed. Voices were slow, loud and drawn out, body language and facial expressions were exaggerated while displaying tolerance. I’m assuming this was perfected after years of ping pong verbals.   

Since I was young, writing was my passion, a salvation. Sure, other distractions came along the way, but the attraction and draw of words continued to pull the inked pen to paper. Whether I was writing in a tattered journal, a recycled spiral notebook, notes on a napkin or a laptop, the important thing was to always keep writing.  

And so I say, with an eager mind and entrepreneurial spirit, thank you! It’s time to branch out with no limitations, no boundaries... free to print four-lettered profanities and run-on sentences. This will be my last column for Patch. 

My literary cohort and conjoined twin, Wendy, and I have decided to launch our own website/blog. Until now, the idea had been a whisper, spoken aloud only in our dirty cars with forgotten groceries and fading cell phone batteries.  

When an opportunity presents itself, we as individuals have two choices. We can let it pass, accept with regret while continuing to ask the “what ifs.” Or we can grasp the opportunity and take the unknown path labeled “Adventure.” I think the greatest obstacles are those we set on ourselves, so why not break from the mold, calm the inner voice and try?

Thank you to all my readers. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each and every moment of this worthwhile experience! Although our site, realandrandom.com is still under construction, save it as a bookmark and visit. Or feel free to e-mail anytime, cami@beiter.cc or visit my Facebook page at facebook.com/cami.beiter.

J. Lippi January 28, 2013 at 09:55 am
Best wishes to the both of you !
Lori LaDue January 28, 2013 at 10:38 am
Will definitely miss your Patch blogs but will hunt you down at your new place! Best of luck to both of you!
Danna Gauntner January 28, 2013 at 11:54 am
What a loss for patch readers but I have already book marked your new site and look forward to reading what you create in this exciting new adventure. I will certainly be along for the ride. Congratulations and best of luck!
http://realandrandom.com/
Christine January 28, 2013 at 01:01 pm
Will miss you much! You were my "raison d'être" on Monday mornings!!! It was ritual. I wake up, grab tea, and read "That's What She Said" at exactly 7:00AM
I will no longer read The Patch on Mondays--because YOU were the only reason why I scanned the site! Instead, I will wake up, and every Monday at 7:00am I will read realandrandom.com So long Cami.
Jennifer Hunter January 28, 2013 at 05:44 pm
Cami and Wendy!, Enjoy Your new Adventure!,,,Congrats On The "HBO Of Blogs"!...
Every Writer needs Freedom and you two found yours,, Are you and Wendy going to be the Wayne's World Blog?,,ha!. TWO... .EXCELLENT ....BABES!...Are you going to be in the Basement?..& Have Rock and Roll in the Back Ground? FUN TIMES AHEAD!,I will BookMark your new Web Site!......:-)...We Will Catch up with you soon!:-) Thanks for the Ride! Happiness to you Both! Jenny:-)
Patricia Gaglioti January 28, 2013 at 05:50 pm
"This is probably just the beginning" says a loyal follower. Like so many of us that await your Monday column, I'll highlight the "realnrandom" bookmark and enjoy the creativity of the new and free scripted Cami. Patch looses a talented writer and readers. I'm one of them.
Ben Rodriguez January 28, 2013 at 06:17 pm
Cami, I've enjoyed your writings and will certainly follow.
Brent January 28, 2013 at 07:56 pm
I will miss your columns. I always enjoyed them on a Monday morning along with my chocolate martini.
Jim Merchant January 28, 2013 at 10:28 pm
I will miss your writing too but will watch for more on FB or the new blog site. Thanks and all the best on the "Adventure".
Cami Beiter January 28, 2013 at 11:25 pm
What a day! Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and emails...I'll respond to them...I promise! Thank you, thank you..everyone keep in touch!

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Bonnie June 7, 2013 at 08:36 am
I believe in the concept of charter schools. Saw some very good ones in inner cities that workedRead More very hard and made some progress. But I thinks for every charter school that opens a failing public school should close. Why perpetuate failure?
Bonnie June 7, 2013 at 08:33 am
How long will we throw money at a problem that stems from the home and societal policies promotedRead More over the years? How many years and how much money is needed to fix the fact that so many children are growing up in households without fathers? If we give the schools all the money they want, will it fix the problem? I think not. It is not a school issue. It is a decaying society issue. I'm glad I'm old.
Spiff June 14, 2013 at 05:27 pm
Penny, glad to see some (albeit few) smart people are working in Hartford for the people and notRead More just for their political careers! Since the large majority don't pay attention, it is important that we continue to educate people on what our representatives are doing in Hartford. Keep up the good work, and thanks for taking the time to write this article.