Once upon a time, a local resident began writing a column. She wanted to bring fun tales about her backyard, the birds, garden advice, and memories of growing up in a different time to the good readers of Broad Ripple Village. She wrote and wrote and wrote making every deadline. But this year she got writer's block. What would page 19 of the Broad Ripple Gazette do if her column was not sent in on time to the editor?

She began a month before the deadline. She asked her sister, "What should I write for Vol. 13 No. 21?" Her sister gave her some ideas, but no offer to help. So this writer had to explore more. She talked to an avid reader of the paper, "What should I write for Vol. 13 No. 21?" The reader had only a comment about how he liked to read "Right in Your Own Backyard." Another reader listed his favorites: the cardinal and the clothes on the line ones. Still no new, fresh ideas. So the writer sat and thought. No inspiration, no thoughts, no words.

The weeks passed, and the deadline was getting close. She had thought and thought and thought. Finally the time crunch jarred a long lost memory. The book The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper sent inspiration her way. So she began to say "I think I can, I think I can. I think I can." She needed to copy the determination of the little engine that could climb the mountain to take its train load to the good children.

This is a true story. I began writing for the Gazette 13 years ago. Alan Hague was in Backyard Birds delivering one of the first issues of the paper, and I asked if he would like a nature column or something about Broad Ripple since I lived in the area most of my life. He invited me to send a couple of articles. I did and I was hired. If Alan had told me I would be writing for the paper for this many years, I don't know if I would have been able to meet the challenge of this assignment!!

Please know that many of you have encouraged me to keep my thoughts bubbling up and putting them on paper. Just like each time I saw one special reader, he would comment on my most recent column. Another man wrote me a note about his days at Starlight Musicals and how he didn't want them forgotten. A woman told me about how wonderful it was to be able to read something enjoyable while sipping her coffee. I can go on and on; it is your comments that give me steam to say "I think I can, I think I can!"

This issue Vol. 13 No. 21 is a cause for a celebration. I began asking what I should write early this month because I had gotten an email from Alan. He contacted me with the news that this column would be my THREE HUNDRETH! That is 300 Right In My Own Backyards have appeared in the Broad Ripple Gazette! In that time I have had only four guest columnists; one was James Whitcomb Riley and his poem about Broad Ripple.

Thank you readers. Remember, if you send me comments or ideas, they give me the steam to meet the bimonthly deadlines. Cheers to 300 and "I thought I could, I thought I could!"

P.S. Writers are not to overuse !. This column called for lots of !!!!!!!!!!