How are you supposed to say goodbye to a lifestyle, an occupation, a calling that you鈥檝e spent your lifetime to achieve?
As I enter the waters of retirement this week, after 45 years swimming in the waters of employment 鈥� I鈥檓 told it鈥檚 time to look backward, to reflect on successes achieved and also on what could have been done differently, even what could have been entirely avoided (as if I鈥檇 plan to do it all again someday).
Interestingly, the things I鈥檓 most proud of don鈥檛 have to do with radio and TV at all 鈥� 41 years of marriage, fatherhood to a remarkable man, faith in God, and being dependable to people who needed me. But that鈥檚 outside the realm of what working at 海角破解版 and broadcast outlets prior have meant.
It does seem odd to me that this phase of life concludes with my full-time gig being as a radio host, when the ambition from childhood was to be reporting on camera. But then again, my first-ever job (1978) was also in radio, because it was initially hard to break into television.
From there followed a travelogue of broadcasting life, two radio and six TV stations in West Virginia, Memphis, Cleveland, Charlotte and Philadelphia 鈥� four years at CBS News in New York, and then a departure from commercial broadcasting for the journalistic diversity of public broadcasting.
And with this stop came a richer discovery of what local journalism can be. Discussions that have not just meaning, but depth. The opportunity to make real differences in people鈥檚 understanding. The impact that words have across the community, and the idea that broadcasters are teachers too.
What I鈥檒l miss are the regular interactions. Not only people who have worked closely alongside me, but the students who watch 鈥淣ewsDepth,鈥� the guests who frequented both 鈥淚deas鈥� on television and the 鈥淪ound of Ideas,鈥� on radio, and the many folks I shared time and stages with at events I鈥檇 moderate, programs I鈥檇 host, debates I鈥檇 arbitrate or even just people I鈥檇 bump into at a concert, play, film or game.
Note that it鈥檚 only a retirement, it is not goodbye. I鈥檒l continue to be involved in this community we love, keeping my hand in the game as asked, serving on boards, volunteering 鈥� things that keep one vital.
Leaving the 鈥淪ound of Ideas鈥� is bittersweet. But I look forward to this next chapter with gusto 鈥� and without an alarm clock.
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