Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 15 November 2011 15:41

I got up Sun­day morning thinking it would be routine. Many times on arising, I first check my e-mail and then other social media. This Sunday wasn’t routine.

I had to read it twice on a former colleague’s post that a mutual colleague of ours had died unexpectedly. I googled Les Anderson’s name and read on the Wichita Eagle’s website that he had died of a heart attack the evening before at the age of 62.

It was a total shock. Les was one of the best journalists there ever was. We worked together at the Wichita Sun in the 1970s and have stayed friends and in touch ever since.

Currently, he was a professor of journalism at the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University. Before that he was co-owner of the Ark Valley News in Valley Center. He also was a past president of the Kansas Press Association.

This guy would do anything for anybody. He was as quick-witted as anyone I have ever known.

Last year he decided to publish a book using many of the columns he had written in the newspaper with the net proceeds going to help build a new library for Valley Center.

At his book signing of “Never Take a Snake for a Ride” at Watermark books he wrote in my copy of the book: “Get started on your book so I can come to the signing before I die.”

Most people reading this won’t have known Les, but I can assure you not many people have had as profound an effect on so many journalism students as he did.

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It’s crazy that one can make a mistake on something that has been read multiple times. I think I may have caused some confusion in our Save Your Receipts ad.

In our Holiday Local Rewards Program, it read in the previous two full-page ads that “a single ticket can be worth no more than 10 tickets.” It should have read that “a single receipt can be worth no more than 10 tickets.” It also should have read—and does now—that “you will receive one ticket for every $100 in receipts you can show from multiple purchases you have made.”

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My sister Elaine popped in for a visit recently while on her way back to Minnesota. She was traveling with a friend, and I thought we could send along a small dresser that my mom gave to my niece. We had been storing it for her in our apartment. It almost fit in their car, but two legs were sticking out and I couldn’t tilt it enough to slide it all the way in.

So I did the next best thing. I took two of the legs off even though they were glued and screwed on. She thought I was too persistent, but I’m glad my niece will now be able to enjoy the piece of furniture that is rightfully hers.

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My eyelid surgery is now history. I think the medical term is blepharoplasty. I can see a lot better now and it is really bright outside.

They put you under, sort of. I remember asking what they did with the excess skin that was removed and I was sure they said it was used for fish bait. Then I thought I asked if I could have it. No one I have told this to thinks it really happened.

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My sister’s friend thought I would like a bookmark made from 75 percent elephant dung, since I am in the book printing business, so she gave it to me.

If you wish to share your comments or ideas, my e-mail address is joel@hillsborofreepress.com.