“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
- A.A. Milne
(Winnie the Pooh)
I can remember exactly where I was when I got the text from Emerald Greene Parsons, asking if I would be interested in working in Jefferson County as a reporter. I had previously worked for her at the Madison (Greene Publishing) office, but had to leave due to family matters that involved moving out of Madison. I was walking down an aisle in Target when my phone buzzed in my back pocket. I had to read it twice. Another chance at returning to writing news and telling the stories of a community? I asked for a chance to think it over, but in reality, it required very little 'thinking over.' Two weeks later, I was here – in Monticello – settling back into the familiar routine, and now I have been a member of the team at ECB Publishing for a little over two years.
During that time, I've gotten the chance to meet SO MANY incredible people. While I haven't lived in Monticello throughout my time here, in many ways Monticello has become like a second home to me. Everyone here is fantastic and I thoroughly understand why so many people enter Jefferson County and never want to leave again – I know the problems of the county better than most, and it is still one of the places that, I believe, has the kindest, most compassionate people of anywhere else I've ever been.
From the courthouse to local family farms, I have been welcomed into Jefferson County in a way I (an “outsider”) never expected to be, and I have enjoyed my time writing for this hometown newspaper. Every grand opening of a business, every festival, every hometown game win...I've gotten to be a part of the things that make Jefferson County special. For that, I thank everyone.
But now, it’s time for a new adventure – and not one I embark on lightly or without a level of bittersweet sadness.
Friday, Aug. 7 will be my last day at the Monticello News office before I launch into something new as I fill the position of editor at a newspaper over in Gadsden County. I am BEYOND excited for this exhilarating opportunity to further develop my role in the newsroom and media world – I'm excited for the fresh responsibility that I will get to undertake in this role.
But with that thrilled excitement comes plenty of sadness – I will miss Monticello and its people. Being able to be a part of the life in this county and its residents has been so incredibly special and I know I am going to miss the sound of the courthouse clock tolling either five minutes late or 30 minutes early. I'm going to miss the walk to a local eatery, where it seems the entire town has also gathered for lunch. I probably won't miss the backed-up-roundabout, but I'll miss the “oh, here we go again” humor it always causes us at the news office. I'll miss the Tiger games, the Warrior games and the kids on the teams. I'll miss the people.
I am heading onwards to something new and big – I'm expanding who I am in my role as a news writer and storyteller. When I step away from my role as a small-town reporter for Monticello at the end of this upcoming week, it will be a bittersweet move. As thrilled as I am to launch into a new adventure, I will also greatly miss everyone in Monticello who has made my time here wonderful.
I'll most certainly be back – I like shopping downtown, attending festivals and being around the folks here too much to be away forever. But my name won't be listed on stories in the newspaper and my little red car won't be spotted in the Monticello News parking lot as frequently.
You all have been INCREDIBLY marvelous to this outsider-of-a-reporter, and she thanks you for that. Wherever I end up, Monticello and the ECB Publishing family will always have a special place in my heart....after all, good friends never say really goodbye, they only say ‘see you soon.’
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