Sitting down to write this column, it occurs to me this really is an odd new gig for me.
I’ve been on the other side of the desk the entirety of my professional career – you know, taking orders, working late to meet other peoples’ deadlines and generally living in fear of my boss.
And I had a good thing going.
I got to write my little news stories, which usually ran without much attention or fanfare. My head shot rarely had to come out of hiding and it certainly never got top billing in Tony Bacon’s Daily Insider.
So when the opportunity arose to step around to the other side of the desk, I thought, “Now why would I go and do a silly thing like that?”
But I’m really glad I did.
It has already brought new challenges, new responsibilities and most rewardingly, a new perspective.
Now I’m writing to meet my own deadlines, which has its ups and downs, and people call me all day asking questions instead of the other way around. And – gasp – what if people are afraid of me now? Me!
I’ve been introduced to many new names and faces in the community, and each day, I feel my brain expanding. Not a day has gone by since I took over as Managing Editor that my inbox hasn’t been overflowing with paper at the end of the day, but I’m learning to be OK with not getting through it all before I drag myself home.
It means this community is active. Stuff is happening, and that makes me proud to be a part of it.
While some say the state of things is dour – some of them rightfully so – from where I sit, it’s not all bad.
Southwest Washington Medical Center recently broke a county fundraising record around the same time the Community Foundation gave a record amount to local community organizations.
In this issue alone, Editorial Assistant Charity Thompson and freelance reporter Jodie Gilmore each wrote about profitable businesses that are seeing growth.
The state of things could be a lot worse.
So keep the press releases and phone calls coming. Keep my inbox full.
I always welcome feedback about stories that have run in the paper, and ideas about what the future of the VBJ should hold, along with story ideas, letters to the editor and guest opinions.
And speaking of changes, this seems to be the appropriate avenue to answer the question that has come up several times in the past few weeks about a certain name change.
Yes, I was recently married and am blissfully happy about my new hyphenated name.
So here’s to fresh starts all around. We at the VBJ have big things planned for you, our faithful readers.
