One year ago, on Dec. 27, we lost a co-worker, Mike Scarborough, who died at the age of 59. He was my age then so it really hit home. Even though some of us only got to know Mike for the three-plus years he worked at the Register, he was always fun to be around and knew how to run a computer, helping to get the paper out the door on time, all the time. And he did great work designing our supplements as well.

Looking back over the past year's obituaries, I discovered several friends and acquaintances, all older than me, who made an impact on my life one way or another. Perhaps the one I miss most is our family's former Gilead Street neighbor and lifelong friend, Mike Lewis. His laugh, jokes and great memories gave us great memories. Others include family friends Nancy Williams, David Orne, Margaret and Rendall Hyson and Muriel Yereance, our neighbor when my wife and I were first married, William "Hooker" Holbrook, and other friends who gave me advice as the hometown editor — Brian McKenna, Marie Callnan, Janice Newell Long, Bob Drake, Bob Dey, Milton Van Vlack and George W. Cochrane III.

Another death that hit home was the wife of one of my best friends. Laurel Elderkin-Graham was a year older than me when she died in August, but she and my friend Bruce were a "young couple" in spirit. A talented artist and musician, Laurel and Bruce always contacted us when they came to Maine from their home in the Baltimore area. Just a year before her death, she joined in the 40th reunion celebration of the BRHS class of 1975.

Then there are the ones who died too soon — some I knew for a long time (Brenda Lord, Wallace Abbott, Leslie Barter and Mary Latter), some I knew to always say "Hi" to (Steve Reny, Elizabeth Brown Kelly, Harold Seavey, Stephanie Berry and Mary Setchell-Pardue) and those who died way too soon — Christopher Reynolds, Jesse Erskine and Jared Peaslee.

Death is not a pleasing thing to think about or write about, but at the end of each year, I find it's nice to remember those who have touched my life somehow and to remember the days I saw them laughing or smiling, the hours or minutes we shared together over the years, and the many other memories.

Have a happier 2017 everyone.