See ya in six weeks!During the next few weeks, I will disappear (short-term) from the helm of the Crescent. As some readers know, I am expecting a baby and my nine-month wait will soon be over. I plan to take six weeks of maternity leave from the paper to recover and get to know the little bundle of joy. I am comfortable taking time off, because the Crescent will be left in the capable hands of Brenda Winter, with help from Star Herald Editor Lori Ehde and Assistant Editor Sara Strong.Some readers may remember Brenda from when she covered the Hills area for the Rock County Star Herald more than 10 years ago. She worked the summer of 1985, before leaving to attend graduate school, and returned to the Star Herald from 1987 to 1992 as a reporter. Brenda also filled in for Lori Ehde, who took maternity leave in 1996.During her time at the paper, Brenda earned two first-place awards in the 1992 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest, one award for Photo Story and one award for Portrait and Personality photo. She also won an award for her writing.Unfortunately, what all this means for me, is that my absence will go unnoticed.It will be fun to see how Brenda covers the news in the Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen area. Hopefully, I will be able to pick up some tips when I read the Crescent from home.Meanwhile, our family will be adjusting to a new baby. I am looking forward to the transition after not having an infant around for more than 10 years.We know the baby is a girl, according to the ultrasound technician, and we have decided to name her Sarah Catherine. These two names are intertwined in our lives. Sarah is in memory of 17-year-old Sarah Amundson, our baby’s cousin, who was killed in February, along with three other teenagers, near Brandon, S.D. The morning of Sarah’s funeral, at which I sang, I learned that my 93-year-old grandmother had passed away. My grandmother’s middle name was Catherine. Through the course of settling my grandmother’s estate, I learned there were "Catherines" in the last four generations of my family. We decided to carry on the tradition.Anytime now, we will meet little Sarah Catherine and our curiosity will be satisfied. We will know for certain who she resembles and if she has an even temperament or is a little more challenging. What fun our discoveries will be!
