I'm bidding farewell to the A-T Friday

This is my final week as a writer for The Advertiser-Tribune. My last day is Friday. Wow. When I was a young person fresh out of BGSU, I started working at the A-T, and I remember feeling so much at home here. I was ready to learn and grow. The teachers I had in those first years were phenomenal and helped to shape my career. In the beginning – in the mid-1980s – I knew there would be an ending someday, but it was so far off it seemed like forever. Back then, there was a large, active newspaper office with several departments busily conducting each day's business and handling the steps involved in putting out a daily newspaper. All the writing, photography, ad sales, circulation and several steps of newspaper production were happening all at once. … Yes, I even ran pieces of paper through a waxer and pasted the copy on the physical page. There were no cell phones or email. And the photographers took photos and developed them in the newsroom's darkroom. And there was the smell of A-T when I came in the back door of the office each day. I think it was a combination of the paper and ink for the press that churned out each edition. Oh, the memories. But enough reminiscing. Times change. And then one day it happened. I knew the time had arrived to enter a new chapter of my life. I look at the young people on the A-T staff now and it reminds me of how I was in the beginning. To them, I say … Through the trials and tribulations, just keep on keeping on. All of those difficult times, difficult people and new experiences are shaping you into the journalist you are – and the one you will become with wisdom. And don't forget to savor the great times and the sweet people you meet along the way. It would take several newspaper pages to list all of the people I've interacted with over the years. Whether we met one time to interview for a feature story, or we had a long-term professional relationship – and especially if we became friends – I thank each and every one of you for the education, good times and sense of community – and even those few times of conflict because they led to further growth. To all of you who have read my work regularly over the years, I thank you. Without readers, what would a writer do? And so I say farewell to the A-T … But not to Tiffin and Seneca County. You're still likely to see me at some events. And my wonderful parents, Cletus and Susie Reinhart, live near New Riegel, so I'll be around. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Who knows? There might be some further professional opportunities. Time will tell. If anyone would like to reach me in the future, my email address is vicki.dte (at) gmail.com. Whatever the next chapter brings, I'm ready.