A Special Letter To Melrose Patch Readers

MELROSE, MA — Hi, Melrose. It's me, Mike.

I'll be quick since I know it's a Monday morning and the line to get coffee can be a bear. I just want to say a big, hearty "thank you."

See, I've been away for the last six-plus weeks, ever since my wife's water broke at 33 weeks. Talk about unexpected. We also juggled some other misfortunes along the way.

But even though I was away, you readers weren't. The messages and gifts to both my wife and I — while we were in the hospital, back home, back in the hospital, back home — each one was a blessing. People who I only know from local Facebook groups or via my dayjob as your friendly neighborhood reporter were pouring out love on us. It meant more than you know.

I can happily say things have straightened out at the Melrose Patch headquarters (my house.) The new little man is growing and perfectly healthy, as is everyone else. Thank God.

And so I'm back with you. I'll once again be covering local news and events as comprehensively as I can. I encourage you to follow me on Twitter @PatchCarraggi or on Instagram @MelroseHappening — each account offers something different related to local news that doesn't always quite fit on the pages of Patch. You'll also find supplemental coverage of stories I'm working on.

I'm also going to try a new experiment. Each Friday morning in place of a traditional story, you'll get something more personalized from my experience around town, more of a first-person story. I'll also open the floor to your experiences if you'd like to submit something.

As always, make sure you're subscribing (for free!) to Melrose Patch to get our daily morning newsletters and other local breaking news alerts.

Well that's it for me. Again, thank you. See you around town.