I hear Meshach has been throwing hints around for weeks, humming little snippets of the Beatles' tune "...they say it's your birthday," and muttering something about how more space on the front page would make a nice gift. Although a ghost, he is very tied into these "real" world celebrations. He also needs some additional soothing. He's feeling a bit piqued after being threatened with hot cheese the other day; the latest salvo hurled in a very nasty 'food-fight'. So it's only right that we make a big deal about his one-year birthday and let him know what a great ghost he is. It keeps him happy. And he is afterall, the star of the Shore Journal. I wasn't in on the delivery of the Shore Journal. I entered the scene about a month later with a story about the miracle of Easter which I experienced while working with high school students on a theater project. I think it is rather appropriate that the Journal's birthday falls this year on Easter, symbolic of new life. In a sense, my relationship with this publication has allowed me to look at myself in a new way, to become a new person. I look back at the year and realize the amount of writing I have done when I wasn't sure if I was a writer at all. I knew, of course, that I could write news. But I tentatively approached the opportunity to write in a venue that was far more personal. My attribution had to come from me. Meshach gave me no leeway for feeling shy and if I took a tumble along the way he merely chuckled and said, "get up and try again." It was also comforting to have someone from the 19th century, as Meshach is, hold my hand in the computing world. His ghostly presence reminds me I don't have to understand everything about bytes and rams and ppp's. I can just use the computer as a tool to explore the possibilities of creative communication. I now have more confidence hanging around 'geeks' (and I use that term fondly), and have developed the utmost respect and admiration for these mostly young minds who think and live computers and really do see the world in a different way. I feel like I'm on the cutting edge of an exciting new world writing for a Zine, especially the most widely read publication on Delmarva! (tee-hee). That really makes Meshach puff up with pride. And of course, there are the wonderful people, fellow contributors to the Shore Journal that I have come to know through their talents and ideas. I have found a new family and share pride with each of them in what we have been able to create and nurture for a year. It's been a good first year. Happy Birthday to our toddler Zine, and yes, to you my dear crusty friend, Meshach. Copyright 1996 Kelley Rouse Kelley! Table of Contents