Called-out column writer confesses few embellishments

<p>This highly esteemed letter was forwarded to me from the formidable Daily Journal Editor, Michele Holtkamp. I felt a reply was imperative.</p><p><em>From: Nancy Gilliland</em></p><p><em>Date: January 5, 2019 at 2:42:27 PM EST</em></p><p><em>To: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></em></p><p><em>Subject: Missing column</em></p><p><em>I’ve been missing the column of Janet Hommel Mangas the last 2 Saturdays of the Daily Journal. I am hoping that this does not mean that you have discontinued the regular appearance of her column on Saturdays. Her writings are so entertaining and she is an excellent storyteller! I can relate to many of her stories and whether they are actually authentic or not is not important. Each one brings back memories of great experiences in my own life. I am hoping that she is just taking a holiday break.</em></p><p><em>I also enjoy Lori Borgman’s weekly creations as well. Both of these columnists provide much needed day-brighteners, always smiles and often downright laughter! I look forward to their columns on Thursdays and Saturdays. Please continue to include BOTH of them in the Daily Journal.</em></p><p><em>Nancy Gilliland</em></p><p><em>Franklin, IN</em></p><p>Dear Nancy,</p><p>Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. To be quite transparent, your words came after a quite trying 2018 and kinda-tough Christmas. If my family were writing they might title it: ‘The year mom tried to ruin Christmas” or maybe, “Janet’s horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad holiday.”</p><p>I hope to continue my Daily Journal columns as long as they can possibly put up with me. Editor Michele Holtkamp is quite the talented newswoman, thoroughly professional and a real peach! But enough about her — let’s get back to that fabulous and astute letter you penned about how my writings are “so entertaining” and I am “an excellent storyteller!”</p><p>After standing on a wooden kitchen chair like I was addressing a sold-out colosseum, I read your letter a few umpteen times to my family as they sauntered through. I did notice after the ninth or tenth reading they giggled at this phrase: “I can relate to many of her stories and whether they are actually authentic or not is not important.”</p><p>Much like any reporter, I felt I owed it to my reader(s) to look back and investigate what might be construed as inauthentic — I have never been accused of writing fake news, except from my younger brothers.</p><p>Dec. 22, 2018 column — I did actually knock the hand off Joseph and hide his severed hand under the manger.</p><p>Dec. 15, 2018 column — My daughter Phoebe, 22, was in fact the tallest musician at her piano recital and I did quietly plot how I could accompany her on tambourine at her next recital.</p><p>Dec. 1, 2018 column — I did repair my MacBook Pro, but I do now admit embellishing when I may have mentioned that I was a computer genius — my computer is being a bit finicky again.</p><p>Nov. 17, 2018 column — I do stand behind the fact that “I believe it’s smarter to error on the well-done-overcooked-side rather than the salmonella-sick-family side. I don’t have many fears, but killing my family with my cooking is maybe one.”</p><p>Nancy, I do stand corrected, after perusing this column from three years ago — Feb. 20, 2016:</p><p>During writing breaks, I’ve captured photos of the crimson-velvet, red-headed woodpecker and a ginormous pileated woodpecker, in addition to four bluebirds that decided to overwinter in the surrounding area. A red-tailed hawk, Coopers hawk and an occasional fly-by eagle have been hanging around the homestead.</p><p>Of course, if you talk to my competitive brother David and his ever-loyal four-year old triplets, the seven deer (including twin fawns that are enjoying their first winter) that saunter almost daily through their front yard and pass by their cabin front windows nullify any wildlife that I’ve seen in my yard. Even if I had the opportunity to take a selfie, hand-feeding a Pterodactyl with a 30-foot wingspan, Emery, the male member of the triplet club, would retort something like: “Nope, Dad’s right, seven deer beat one big old flying reptile any day.” Darn kids and their math skills these days.</p><p>Nancy, thank you for holding me accountable for my accuracy in writing — it’s quite obvious that my nephew Emery, now 7-years-old and much wiser, would agree that Aunt Janet hand-feeding a Pterodactyl beats out a few measly deer moseying by their cabin windows.</p>