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HOLDING ON AS
LONG AS I CAN

   I'm close, oh so close, to entering the modern era. I came within moments of deciding to cancel my print subscription to the San Francisco Chronicle.
   "You can do it," said my wife as she closed her computer after reading the latest news online. "For once, become a man of the 21st century."
   We were at the breakfast table. And once again, while perusing my beloved print edition, I had shared with my wife a fascinating piece of news that I was reading.
   "That happened three days ago," she had said with a snort. "You're reading old news."
   Perhaps, but at least I was reading it with the feel of paper soothing my hands. I would turn each page gracefully, eagerly looking forward to what I would find.
   I grew up with newspapers. My father was a reporter and then a columnist for The Chronicle for over 50 years. I've been a subscriber all my life and had a weekly Chronicle column of my own published on those lovely pages for a few years.
   Newspapers are in my blood. Opening the front door in the morning, 365 days a year, and finding that paper lying seductively near your doorstep is such a soothing feeling. It's too bad everything has changed.
   The print edition of The Chronicle, like many papers across the country, is a shadow of its former self. The news is sketchy, there are very few columnists or personalities (where have you gone, Herb Caen?) and most sadly, the news is far from current.
   The Chronicle hit bottom when it decided to go to print without including any reporting of the day's sporting events. Not just night games, but day games as well. That's just plain pathetic.
   What happened to EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT??? That kind of went out the window when the paper the little newsboy is holding has news that's two days old. Scoops are for online only, unfortunately.
   The only question is who crumbles first, me or The Chronicle. Newspapers are shutting down at an average of two per week. Since 2005, the country has lost more than a fourth of its newspapers. Thanks, you stupid internet.
   It's estimated that 86% of American adults get their news from a computer, smartphone or tablet. That's only going to grow in the years to come. It's kind of a shame.
   My grandchildren will never have the pleasure of slapping the paper on the table and picking up their favorite section to peruse. They'll never know that feeling of folding it back together, getting the seams just right.
   Of course, they'll also be up to date with the news, unlike me. And that's why I'm considering dumping my print edition.
   My wife went first. She was an avid newspaper reader all her life until about two years ago. Then I noticed some mornings she'd be on her computer and I had the paper all to myself. Worked for me.
   It didn't take long before she had forsaken the paper entirely, her loyalty replaced by a smugness over reading current news. Meanwhile, I continued to comment on an article in the paper, only to be met with a snort.
   I'm not sure how much longer I can last. They've dumped the Business section, they've dumped the Bay Area section and the news and sports are at least a day late. And the ridicule is mounting.
   "Why don't you just get the New York Times Sunday edition?" she asked when I expressed my love for paper. "Maybe that will satisfy you."
   "That makes sense," I replied. "I can read old New York news. Nope, I need the local angle. But I must admit I've pretty much had it with The Chronicle."
   She shrugged and opened her computer again. I don't know what she was reading, but I did know it was current. I scanned the sports pages of my beloved paper and tried to read about the Giants game against the Texas Rangers. They played two days ago.
   It won't be long. One day I'll be so disgusted I'll cancel my subscription and join the internet crowd. And just like the milkman, my morning paper will never appear again. Sniff.
 

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