the position as the Director of the Morton J. Habilitation Center at Chattanooga’s Orange Grove Center that I found myself at a national conference for intellectual and developmental disabilities in Wisconsin. I attended a lecture presented there by Exceptional Parent and was introduced to this resource, this forum for “information that counts from people who care” (EP’s tagline at the time). I knew I had to be a regular reader of this magazine to even have a hint as to the issues, power, goals and challenges of this growing movement. It was for me, and millions of readers over the decades, a place where things came together.

So back to the quote that I selected as my farewell quote. After reading scores of “farewell speeches” (including those by Shakespeare, Napoleon, Winston Churchill, M.L. King, Mother Teresa and Lou Gehrig), I found the one that best describes my current emotions.

While not a poet, statesman, athlete or theologian, I found Winnie the Pooh expressed it best: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

That, in a nutshell says it all.

I am leaving EP Magazine with contentment, appreciation, loyalty and allegiance. I have EP to thank for introducing me to thousands of dedicated and committed individuals who share both the burdens and opportunities to make a difference. I have EP to thank for setting me straight, causing me to rethink and re-navigate my understanding of what really matters. And I have EP to thank for the opportunity to cry out, stand on a soap box and receive invitations to many inner circles.

I want to thank my colleague Vanessa Ira, our award-winning Managing Editor who continues to redefine "managing." For

years, she has been primarily responsible for gathering the relevant, practical and indispensable content that readers craved, cried out for, and demanded. She is the personification of the quote, “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.” (Martina Navratilova; based on the business fable, The Chicken and the Pig, where “the chickens are the people who have something to say but usually have nothing to contribute.” Whereas, “The pigs are those who are on the chopping block – the committed people who have stakes in the project and are essential to its success or failure.”) I use this quote to describe Vanessa as the committed one; for sure she was, and I imagine, will continue to be committed to providing the disability community with what they deserve; access to information that they can use the very next day

"I am leaving EP Magazine with contentment, appreciation, loyalty and allegiance. I have EP to thank for introducing me to thousands of dedicated and committed individuals who share both the burdens and opportunities to make a difference."

I have every assurance and confidence that I will find another soapbox and you will hear me continue to quote the great quotes. And while I personally want to thank Winnie the Pooh for providing a great farewell quote, it’s probably also appropriate to quote another mentor of mine, Dr. Seuss.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”•

ANCORA IMPARO

In his 87th year, the artist Michelangelo (1475 -1564) is believed to have said "Ancora imparo" (I am still learning). Hence, the name for my monthly observations and comments. – Rick Rader, MD, Editor-in-Chief, EP Magazine Director, Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center Orange Grove Center, Chattanooga, TN

IN 2021, EP MAGAZINE CELEBRATED 50 YEARS AS AN INDISPENSABLE RESOURCE FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY

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EP’s 51st year began with the 2022 EP GUIDE to Navigating Special Needs Resources. Visit epmagazine.com/subscribe and don’t miss an issue!