For a decade and a half Tracy Seelye has been at the wheel of the Whitman-Hanson Express, as it meandered through the backyards and town halls of Whitman and Hanson. She has done a great job, and we have received many, many fan letters penned on the return slip to renew your subscriptions, or in a greeting card thoughtfully sent to wish us well in trying circumstances. It has been a pleasure to work with Tracy, and she has taught me so much that I truly don’t know where to begin.
Tracy’s passion for Mayor Pete’s politics is well-known and many weekends she went north to New Hampshire to knock on doors for Pete, to stalk coffee diners and breakfast places, to let people know that Pete Buttigieg was one of the good guys and a politician who could be trusted. Monday mornings after a weekend on the road could be a little rough…
Before Parkinson’s began to make its effects known, this was somethiing Tracy might not have done, but she didn’t want to waste her chance to be a part of that political scene and let her passion for Mayor Pete’s politics rule.
Never, in our wildest dreams, did we think we would be publishing a newspaper during a worldwide pandemic! That morning when I heard the prediction that the virus was just flexing its muscles and was winding up to pack a wicked punch, it certainly scared me to death. I emailed everyone to stop what they were doing and pack up their computers and anything else they needed to do their jobs and go home – where it was safe. I foolishly thought that if we all just stayed home for two or three weeks, it would be over. Five years later, it still isn’t over. But, like the virus, we’ve learned to adapt.
I don’t think I’ll ever adapt to the Express without Tracy calling me to let me know about something. Her breadth of knowledge never ceases to amaze me. And I hope she won’t mind if I use that privilege of calling on her from time to time to answer questions as they arise.
The one thing that makes it almost bearable is that she has promised to contribute stories to the Express from time to time so we won’t miss her too much.
Tracy’s wit is renowned. Her grasp of situations is uncanny, and she writes about it so we all can understand what’s happening. Those are very big shoes to fill. She does have big feet, but the shoes are enormous. We’ll do our best, and hope that you won’t judge us too harshly.
If you’ve enjoyed your Whitman-Hanson Express subscription, please drop a note to Tracy and let her know. We all like to feel like somebody out there likes us! She has been a special person to many of our readers and has certainly been a special person to me. Tracy Seelye, Express Newspapers, PO Box 60, Hanson, MA 02341.
Thank you, Tracy Seelye! It’s been a wild and wonderful ride with you at the wheel!
— Deb Anderson, Publisher