The end of one road and the start of another

The old saying goes that all good things have to come to an end.

Over the past several years, I have loved my job at the Green River Star. It can be safe to say that you’ve found the right profession when you don’t mind coming to work. Do something you love, right?

One of my favorite parts of the job has always been my weekly column where I hope I’ve made people laugh, think and even a little mad.

So I figure that this column would be the perfect avenue for me to announce that after several months of negotiations, I have purchased a newspaper in Montana.

I love what I do, but the timing felt right for me to have my own business and climb the ladder in the world.

To me, there is no better journalism than that of a small-town paper, and I look forward to having one of my own.

This by no means will be my last column; and I will be here for a while helping out until the end of the school year.

The paper has always treated me well, so I want to give them as much time as they need to replace my position, although I must say they’ll never be able to replace me. I’m kind of cool.

I still plan on being in Sweetwater County a lot of the time. It’s home and I have no plans to completely abandon it. No way that is every going to happen. It’s in my blood.

I do however look forward to having my own business and putting the type of paper I want together.

I think the Star is a great paper, and I will subscribe, but I will also do things a little bit different.

It’s going to be a challenge. I’m sure it’s going to be tough, but I will embrace the struggle with every ounce of passion I have.

I’m sure there will be a lot of stupid predicaments I get myself into and I’ll be sure to send those in a column every once in awhile. If you’ve been reading my column for awhile, I am the one who once got bit my a donkey named Jack, and happened to fart in a business meeting. These things will continue to happen.

I love the people I work with. They are all unique, yet the bees knees.

Jackie the office manager has a heart of gold. We laugh as we share stories and I enjoy hanging with her both in the office and out of work. She’s an amazing person.

Of all the people in the office, I’ve known Lois the longest. It’s hard to believe, but I have worked on and off with her for almost 15 years. She is referred to as Aunt Lowey. If I can describe our relationship in one word -- shenanigans. It won’t be the same without working with her in an office. I’ve only seen her mad a couple times, but I also hid. I think there is a common theme here. I still plan on causing many shenanigans with my aunt. And it’s not always fun, we have serious talks and it’s nice to have someone to share things with.

I’ve had the great opportunity to sit a few feet away five days a week from Stephanie Thompson. When it’s time to work, we get our job done, but there is also plenty of time for us to goof around. I’ll really miss her friendship and working with someone so passionate about what she does. I don’t really see her angry much, but she does this weird sighing thing that does kind of make me nervous. We kind of do our own thing in the corner and that’s going to suck to not have that anymore.

Then there is the editor, David Martin. I know I make him crazy with a great deal of teasing and chaos, but it’s also been a real treat to be his friend and work with him for so long. Even though I’ll tease him about his hair looking like he just got out of bed all the time, I really appreciate just how smart and how good of a writer he is.

I’ve also known the ad manager Sarah for over a decade. Sarah is like a mom to the office and is always bringing us breakfast. That is Sarah in a nutshell. She’s always taking care of anyone, even if half the time she is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I swear I’ve had to get her out of the corner three of four times. That’s what happens, chickens without heads get stuck. She’s good people and will be missed. She’d do anything anyone ever asked.

The Green River Star is really lucky to have the staff they do.

Our driver Gary is always here to greet us with a good morning in his special way of saying “hey” that I’m pretty sure shakes the office windows. Gary has some of the best stories, but I can’t put them in here.

The great gals in the back are always the first to tease me about my columns, but it’s all in fun.

I’ll miss working with all of you, but I’ll be back in here a lot.

Special thanks to our publisher and owner Louis Mullen for advice and friendship. Look forward to seeing what sort of trouble we can raise when we see each other in Montana.

If you see me around the next couple weeks, come and say hello. I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and say they enjoy the nonsense from this weekly column, and that really makes me feel good.

Thanks for all the help with articles and photos.

It’s been a good ride Green River.