Column 69 for January 28, 2001

In this electronic age, it’s still the "paperwork" that bogs us down. My current frustration stems from an e-mail that I received from my father. But it’s not his fault. As I mentioned last week, he spends the winter in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The "local" paper that he reads is the Mobile Register.

My father forwarded a "link" to this past weekends Register, to a column about education, by the paper’s editor, Mike Marshall. I was impressed. Good words, good points. I knew that Mr. Marshall’s words would for the basis for a future column of mine.

I felt that the appropriate professional courtesy would be to correspond with Mr. Marshall, and ask permission to quote a few excerpts from his column. So far so good. I then received the following response, "Sure. Contact Pam Baker, 334-434-8674 or pbaker@mobileregister.com, who will get you the form that is required. Thanks. Mike Marshall."

I know what I would have said in the same circumstances… "Sure, use anything you want, just give me a credit." But this is not the end of my story, and I still thought this exercise would be simple. I responded with another e-mail, "Pam, I need whatever forms Mike is talking about. Thanks! Tom Miller."

Little did I know! I got the following response from Ms. Baker, "Dear Mr. Miller,

I'm trying to figure out which of Mr. Marshall's columns on education you are referring. Can you give me any further details as to which column you're interested in? (The permission letter has to be very specific.) Thanks, Pam Baker."

I immediately responded with the following, "Dear Pam, Thanks, this one...." including the full text of Mr. Marshall’s column. Pam responded, "Hi! Funny, I never looked at the headline on his column Sunday! Sorry. If you will send me your fax number and a physical address, I will fax the form to you as soon as I can get it completed. We must have an original signature returned to us by snail mail, though. Pam Baker."

This is where I’m at tonight. I’ll send Pam the fax number at my place of employment. I wonder what "physical" address she would like. At work? At the Star? My home? Or maybe just "earth." Once I get the "proper form" I would imagine I’ll have to get it notarized… I’ll do it. I really want to read it now.

I sure hope that my future column is worthwhile. I’ll do my best to do justice to Mr. Marshall’s words. I just wish life could be simpler. I liked working on a "handshake" but I think those days are gone forever. It’s sad.

Peace. Press down hard because you are making four copies. tomiswho@mindspring.com