THANK YOU from LINDA MIRABELLI

To my friends in Taghkanic,

Well, here we are in Massachusetts but still making the long trips once a week back to our house in Taghkanic to gather the rest of our belongings and then unpacking it all here in Massachusetts and finding a place to put it.  This is not an activity that I enjoy since I am an organized person and moving is a messy and disorganized operation.  I cannot find the things I need to make a meal or even to make a bed!  It is this chaos that has kept me from sending this long-overdue letter.

A huge THANK YOU to all of you for the beautiful send-off.  My buddy Betsy and her crew did a wonderful job!  The food was delicious and the cake was beautiful (thank you, Joann).  I am honored and overwhelmed that so many of you came out to bid farewell to Tom and me.  A special thank you to those who gave us little gifts.  I will cherish these things forever: the map of the town, the glass sand timer, the flowers and books and cards and all the other thoughtful things.  (I cannot “cherish" the wine because I already drank it and it was really very good.)

To the many people who could not attend in person but sent cards or emails with sweet messages: I will keep these cards to remind me of the wonderful people in Taghkanic who have become my dear friends.

Ryan’s presentation was so amazing and quite humbling!  Thank you so much, Ryan, for all the nice things you said and for taking the time to acknowledge my work.  I was truly honored!  You are a great guy and a terrific Town Supervisor.  It was a joy to work with you and the others on the Town Board.  I honestly will make every attempt to come back for the adoption of the Zoning Code (but probably not the public hearings) and when you have the ground-breaking for the new Town Hall.  When I had an opportunity to speak, I was at a loss for words (and, frankly, a little afraid that I might cry) so I didn’t say the things I could have and should have said.  Taghkanic is an amazing place to live, and I was lucky to have lived there for 26 years.

My heart still has not let go of Taghkanic and the wonderful people who live there, and I don’t believe the letting go will ever happen.  I will miss you all and I hope to see you again.  I will always be a Taghkanic “girl”.

Love to all,

Linda (and Tom)