Note to HD Writers and Contributors

Now that some months have passed since Jonathan’s death, I thought I’d pen a special note to the site’s writers/contributors (past, present, and future but not in that order).  

To present writers: Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your ongoing contributions and for your role in keeping the site active, interesting, and informative.   Your commitment to HumbleDollar ‘s mission and to honoring Jonathan’s legacy as a master of all things personal finance is deeply appreciated.  I hope you continue to write and load the site with new and informative content.

To future writers (those of you who read HumbleDollar and perhaps comment):  I hope your participation expands into someday penning an article for the site. A good number of readers expressed they would like to see more articles.   If you think you have a story, experience, or information to share from which other readers can learn, I encourage you to give it a go.  Simply send a direct email with your idea and we will work with you get it published.

And finally, to HumbleDollar’s past writers – those who no longer contribute to the site (and there are many):  I write this note with a heavy and disappointed heart. When Jonathan died, many of you mourned his loss like that of a close friend and found it difficult to write.  Believe me, nobody here has mourned Jonathan more than I have.  In the early months, a few of you personally shared with me some concerns for the site’s direction as a reason to no longer contribute, while some of you regularly expressed your distaste blatantly and harshly on the site.  But most have disappeared into thin air.

I’ve asked myself why?  With Jonathan gone, is there no longer an interest in HumbeDollar because the interest was only in interacting with Jonathan Clements?   Did you write for the site simply for personal or professional gain? Or did you just want feedback on your own writing from one of the best writers and editors out there?   For a handful, perhaps there is truth in some or all the above.  But I would like to think for most, the reason you contributed to the site was because you believed in its mission – to educate people about all things money.

I recently wrote a reply to a Forum comment in which I said, “Jonathan was a talented writer, editor and teacher. …….. why not make him proud by penning a piece incorporating his feedback and guidance?”  I stand by my words.

More poignantly however, in an email Jonathan asked me to send posthumously to all HumbleDollar writers, he requested this:  “I’d encourage you to keep posting to the Forum. Please also help to police the site: Let’s continue to avoid nastiness and politics and point it out when others slide. I have a handful of dying wishes, and one of them is that HumbleDollar continues to survive and thrive.”

Do you know what he requested from me?  He asked me to try to forge a good, happy and fulfilling life – without him. Seems impossible.  Compare that to what he asked of you – to continue to contribute to HumbleDollar.  Piece of cake.