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Dan,

I know its no fun eating words or retracting things as it might feel that it hurts your credibility. I feel that when you jump the gun, make up stuff that isn't true, and then don't correct it, your credibility is damaged more harshly, however.

But you did retract earlier this year when you made a mistake and I respected that.

I do realize you reach a lot of people and that's why the offer to talk was made. I thought you actually might like to see hear some of the thoughts that have been behind my actions. They aren't anybody's business, but I don't mind sharing what I can. You could have had a leg up on the professionals out there that report for a living and don't care that much about all the facts either. Even the reporter that wrote that very short article in the ABH had an error in his reporting. Trivial error, but damn, some people just don't care. At this juncture I'm assuming you wouldn't care to talk with me, and frankly, I feel I've already wasted too much time with you. Nothing personal, I just can't put this much time into everything I get.

Anyway, if you can really look back at those two earlier exchanges, and point out to me where you honestly think I lied.... Well, just let me know, because I'm not seeing it. Maybe a board member is supposed to turn in their early resignation 4 months in advance? 6 months? 2 months? I don't know. Thus I served in my position until there was "imminent reason to do otherwise." You know when I made my final decision and set the actual date? Last week. That's right, not even the board members knew a date and they realized it was my decision and no one else's. They respected my privacy and personal decisions. I was still between this past Monday or maybe June, but decided I'm going to have too much going on in June and may not be in town for the meetings anyway. Sorry to disappoint you, but that's the truth. I had talked about it with different folks in the board and around the community, but never set a date or even made it firm that I was actually leaving until the time was right for me. I had several interesting job opportunities from Gainesville to Athens and down to Eatonton that might have got us to hang around for a bit, but those haven't panned out; and in a way I'm glad because we are actually going through with our "go with the flow" plan and know things will work out for us in the end.

I guess its no big deal, I'm already moving on and it seems you are pretty set in your ways by this point. Just sucks that somebody like yourself who has not known the whole story and never even bothered to call or talk to me about it can postulate and present false information, and make assertions that might even be considered defamation. Says something about a person.

Best of luck to you as well, and I sincerely hope you find more peace and happiness in your future. Bitterness is a waste of energy.

oh, an obscure but appropriately timed quote came up for me on iwise.com today. Something to ponder anyway: "Great people talk about ideas. Small people talk about other people." -- Tobias S. Gibson.

Best regards,

--
Tom Breedlove