It’s the end of the year.
Which means, it’s time again for the Feedback Follies, when I look back at all the nice, and not-so-nice comments I received on my columns this year.
Being a columnist is like sitting above one of those dunk tanks — not drunk tanks where drunkards end up — but dunk tanks, where the guy sits on a chair above a tank of water and people throw baseballs at a target until he falls in.
With me, the target is my soul and the baseballs are bad comments that release my seat like a trapdoor and plunge me into the water below. The trick is to climb back out, dry off my computer and keep writing.
But most people are nice, and we’ll start with those.
One big fan is a lady named Deborah S. She rushes up and showers me with praise about my stories. One comment she wrote was, “Dennis, you’re making the world a better place with your writing, inspiring people to see how much aloha they can create, keep up the good work.”
Thank you. That, folks, is why I write.
About my Rainbow Song, she told me when she read it she had tears in her eyes. There’s my payment.
And just as I was in a reverie of ecstasy about that, comments on my story of King Kamehameha were not as glowing.
“I’m sorry Dennis but your story about Kamehameha is a load of romanticized crap.”
Ouch. Thanks, Lance C. I guess you set me straight.
That one dropped me right in the dunk tank. Now maybe I will have some drinks and end up in the drunk tank.
Then Dave T. from Arizona wrote a good comment. What?! They read West Hawaii Today in Arizona? I’m going nationwide, but so are the want ads, so I won’t get too carried away.
“Aloha and keep the good columns coming, looking forward to your next column,” Dave said.
Mahalo, Dave.
And just as my ego and self-esteem were at an all-time high, along comes Gerald S. of Waimea. He really let me have it. In a My Turn letter he let the entire island know that “It is hard to overestimate the level of ignorance demonstrated by WHT columnist Dennis Gregory.”
Kersplash! Right into the water tank.
He continued with zingers like, “He rambles on and shows his complete lack of knowledge about the telescope (and everything).” He ended with “Gregory is totally wrong about the TMT.” Made me feel like a penny waitin’ for change.
Then, just in time, the angels descended to save my bedraggled ego. Nick and Jennifer of Kona rescued me when they wrote, “We appreciate your views and love it when we see your column in the paper. I hope everyone takes your advice to heart.”
They went on, writing, “By following your advice we will make Hawaii great again.”
Thank you, Nick and Jennifer, I’m ordering some red hats with those words right away.
One of my favorites was from a disgruntled TMT fan about my anti-TMT column. She just wrote one line, “Your column is bad.” Right to the point.
So the baseballs just keep on coming, but I stay high and dry most of the time thanks to the good people who like what I write. Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I try to give some light and humor with my words.
Merry Christmas, Happy holidays, and much aloha to you all.
Dennis Gregory writes a bimonthly column for West Hawaii Today. His email is makewavess@yahoo.com Don’t miss his Aloha Show all of December on channel 54, Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:40 p.m. and channel 53, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:10 p.m.