Randy Cassingham's Blog

This week the Honorary Unsubscribe marks the first time that I know that the "honoree" was indeed a This is True reader (it's called "honorary" for a reason!) But in this case, Jerry was, in fact, one of my best friends -- and a Premium subscriber.

I flew out to California last week to deliver his eulogy. While I was in California, I got a rather nifty message from Chip in Minnesota. The point of presenting it here is not to show you what a "great deal" True upgrades are, but rather to show what one reader is doing with his subscription:

I have been a paid subscriber for over a year. I have a 13-year-old son in 7th grade and most Tuesday nights when the new edition arrives I make a point of lying on his bed at night and I read the stories out loud. We have come to look forward to this little ritual each week. We usually get a very good laugh at some of the insane behavior of our fellow travelers on planet earth. I find it comforting to point out some of the bonehead behaviors and hope he learns what not to do.... Some of the stuff is a bit risque, but I've come to use it as a means of sex education: meaning I can see what he knows already. But we also enjoy the honorary unsubscribe. I always look forward to seeing who you have picked and like your idea of celebrating lesser-knowns who have done great things or were just good people. But this is a way of sharing some of the true human goodness with my son too. So, net, thanks for your service. Your price is too low. I expect continued great things from you. And I look forward to many years of sharing this with my son, even when he reads his own copy at college or whatever. Keep up the good work. --Chip, Minnesota

Of course I love making a living at being a professional smartass, but letters like that are an even better reward, and it arrived right when I needed it. Thanks, Chip.