You just never know how a decision made at the beginning of a junior year in Brownsburg, Indiana, would direct your life.

It was 1972. They just had the final vote on what the color of dirt would be. (For those who are curious, it was brown.) At that time, some friends (although they would deny the friend association) and I were put in a class by mistake. By this time, the selection of classes that we could change were (drum roll please) one, and it was journalism.

So, we chose journalism. The dominoes started falling from there. Two years of journalism, the worst editor of the school paper in Brownsburg history (why I had to get that award, I do not know; you take what you can get) bumbling through journalism at Ball State, sterling retail careers at shoe stores in Indianapolis (I know, if the shoe fits, wear it) before I landed at my family’s extra home on Clay Lick Road. No job — probably from what was written above, not much prospect — but here I am, Lord.

After a search in Bloomington and Columbus, and giving those folks a laugh, I thought, “You know, maybe this journalism thing might be a possibility.” Yes, the Bloomington paper said no. God bless the late Greg Temple for taking a chance on me, something I’m sure he regretted many times. It helped that the late great Bob Cramer was retiring at the same time. Greg asked if I could sell ads and write sports. Well, sure I can. As he found out, the best answer for him should have been no, but, he did say yes. So, in April of 1979, armed with my Royal typewriter and uncalled-for enthusiasm for selling ads, I started my career with the Brown County Democrat.

You just never know.

When I told someone I was going to work for a newspaper, they said, ‘You don’t want to do that. You might as well just put a target on your back!” I ad not thought about that (among many other things in my life), but that ship had sailed, and here I am.

I will tell you, yes, there’s some truth about the target thing. Brown County folks are some of the most patient and kind people you’ll ever come across. I don’t know how many will wait until Friday thinking their paper will still come. (FYI, If you don’t get it Tuesday a.m., call.)

And by the way for all those who are sick and tired of Keith Fleener saying, “I’m sorry,” I’m sorry. Another thing I depended upon way too many times when I messed up an ad that they were paying good money for was that they would say, “Oh well, it’s just Keith.” God bless you.

But, the main thing, when you work for a newspaper, especially a community paper, you come in contact with a lot of people. And when it’s Brown County people, there are none finer. Honestly, I’m looking for cheap applause, it’s the truth. Most Brown County people LOVE being here, either by longtime family roots or have moved here because they want to be a part of the Brown County experience — small community caring about your neighbors and Brown County’s beautiful landscape. It’s easy to get caught up in Brown County time (it will happen when it happens) as opposed to a more general outlook, “Why didn’t it happen yesterday?!”

You get a different perspective on people by working at a newspaper. You get to know them, not just what someone else wants you to hear about them or you hear on other types of media. I have always been amazed at folks who go sign up to run for an election. When they have come into The Democrat to let us know they have put their name on the dotted line, I’ve often thought I should just give them a target to put on their back. But some go on to win either to win, take the public shots (wrong or right) and just do the best job possible, or they come up on the short end and still care enough to stay involved in the community. You all have my respect. I’ve often said, what would happen if folks like you quit signing up for public office?

You see many folks who have a passion about things who will never see a cent from following their passions, and many times spend untold money from their own pocket just to follow their passions. And the thing is, there are the folks in Brown County that got I’ve to see up close and personal what they do, how they do it, and they could care less about recognition. THANK YOU! I really hate pointing out one particular, but the volunteer firemen amaze. They are constantly on call. They can be up at any hour of the night to put their lives on the line to generally put out fires or rescue us from things we could have prevented, but they do it with untold amounts of training, spend a lot of their own money on safety gear, etc. and THEN still have to spend their own time on fundraisers (fish fries, pancake breakfasts, Easter egg hunts, haunted trails, etc.) just to buy updated equipment and more.

But, my admiration doesn’t stop there. This community is blessed with so many groups that are just doing their thing to make it a better place to be a part of. I will be sorry I even mentioned any, because I will miss some, but here’s a list of groups I see on a regular basis doing their thing, and I’m just not sure the quality of life here would be the same without them: Brown County Habitat for Humanity, Mother’s Cupboard, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Psi Otes, Tri Kappa, Masonic Lodge, God’s Grace clothes ministry, Brown County Community Closet, St. Vincent DePaul, Brown County Literacy Coalition, Friends of the Brown County State Park, T.C. Steele State Historic Site and the Brown County Public Library (Note my apologies to the groups that start with “Friends.” I probably asked one too many times if there were enemy versions of their groups), all the folks who volunteer to pick up other people’s trash along Brown County roads just because it’s the right thing to do, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and all the rest I’ve forgotten to mention, I’m sorry. But all of these groups and a lot more started because someone said this community has a need and many other folks agreed and made it happen.

Some of the facilities we have in this county we take for granted: Brown County Public Library, Brown County YMCA, Brown County Parks and Recreation, Brown County Playhouse, Brown County Music Center, Brown County Community Foundation, Brown County Art Gallery, Brown County Art Guild, Brown County schools, plus you throw in Brown County State Park, Yellowwood State Forest, T.C. Steele Historic Site and all the others I’ve forgotten, and it makes this place the envy of most counties and communities of our size and larger.

I cannot leave out the churches in Brown County. Since being a part of Brown County I’ve been blessed to be a part of an amazing congregation, the Nashville United Methodist Church. Yes, I know the old line is, you have to wonder about a group that would have me as a member, but thank God they did. It’s a great group that loves leaving their four walls and engaging and supporting the community in so many ways. But, when you work at The Democrat, you come across so many other people from the congregations from all over Brown County, and I can tell you they are all doing the same thing.

I would be remiss in not mentioning some others: Brown County Schools. My two sons were a part of the system. I can say it wasn’t always easy, but I have gotten to know the administrators, teachers, support staff, and all were more than happy to help — but I had to meet them halfway.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Department and Nashville Police Department — always there when I needed them, which was seldom. And just one warning for speeding in 40 years — thank you, Ben! I thank you all for dedication to our county’s safety, especially when you don’t know what the next call will bring.

The Brown County EMT Association — I have seen them in action numerous times, and what caring professionals they are.

The Brown County Health and Living care center — with my mother there for a period of six years or so, I cannot thank you enough for your caring and compassion.

You just never know the amount of friends and acquaintances you’ll met, but when you’re at community paper for 40-plus years, I could not even begin to count them. To all who suffered my puns and humor and mustered a chuckle, thank you! To all those who had faith in me to handle their advertising (probably misplaced), thank you! To all of my co-workers over the years (who probably had to help cover a lot of my tracks), thank you! To the current staff, Sara, Suzannah, Larry and Abby, you are the best. There is no one else who works harder to put out a publication to its readers that will be as meaningful and accurate as possible as these folks.

You just never know.

So, if you’ve wondered where I’m going with this and to both of you who are still reading this, I have officially retired (I know, most of you wondered if I had done this a long time ago even though I was still here — hurtful). Friday, Nov. 15 was my last day here. I’ve abused this old chair enough and my two fingers have punished this keyboard way too long. Let the church bells start tolling and the villagers start the celebration! The Democrat goes on, and I’m sure there will be someone in place that will be a lot friendlier, helpful and will understand geo-fencing. (Don’t ask me.)

My former bride, Susan, will become my future bride on Dec. 20. We’re calling it a do-over. I’m blessed to get this chance. Eventually, I will no longer be a Greasy Creeker. (Note, when I once booked into a hotel in Boston and told them I lived on Greasy Creek Road, it took me several minutes to get them to believe me.) Soon I will be in a high rise overlooking downtown Indianapolis.

For someone who has fought change all along, here we go! Yes, I’m blessed and excited about my next part of my journey, but I will remember and be grateful to my Brown County who have been and will be an important part of my family. Whatta journey!

So, you just never know.

One of my trademarks has been my Sonoma. It’s well broken — err, I mean, broken in. It will not make the journey north. Anyone want a two-tone red/brown ’95 Sonoma? Didn’t start out two-tone, but time, weather and probably lack of maintenance has caused the brown to be added. It has one side view mirror still attached (thank you, duct tape), 4WD — well it used to, but I do think all four still roll — AC I suspect it use to have, but with both windows down, you can at least pretend it does. It still has most parts. There may be some in ditches along Brown County byways, and as Jessica says with most problems with the Sonoma, it’s probably just best to turn the radio up louder. It has had no problem as a rule for my two-minute commute. It comes with a partial roll of duct tape and Brown County Tire and Auto’s phone number.

Keith Fleener ended his 40-year career at the Brown County Democrat on Nov. 15. If you wish to send him a note, please drop it off at our office at 147 E. Main St. or mail it to P.O. Box 277, Nashville, IN 47448 and we’ll make sure he gets it.