A startling thought

I happened to glance at one of the many calendars hanging around the Independent office today and noticed that my 17th anniversary with the SCI is coming up in June. I knew that was coming, and that didn't surprise me. But as I returned to my desk, it suddenly occurred to me that I've lived in Seward longer than I've lived anywhere else.

We lived in Franklin when I was born. When I was about two, we moved to a farm seven miles or so north of town, just north of the hamlet of Macon where I went to school through second grade. Then we moved back into Franklin where we lived until I was 16. That summer we left Nebraska for Kansas, where my family lived for the next 10 years, I think. I went to South Carolina for college and worked there for three years after graduation. Then I came back to Nebraska (because I didn't like living in the south) and lived in Pawnee City for just under two years. I accepted the job here in Seward and have been here since.

It's just kind of strange to think about that and to think about all the things I've done, the places I've been to, the pictures I've taken and the stories I've written during that time. I've gotten to meet some really interesting people and share their stories with SCI readers. I've interviewed World War II veterans, authors, musicians, students, athletes, teachers and, of course, plenty of coaches. I've taken pictures of everyone from infants to senior citizens and hundreds of animals. I've attended state tournaments for almost every sport and have covered quite a few state champions. I've worked with I don't know how many "interns" (what we call the UNL advanced reporting students who come for two weeks each summer), plus other interns who were really that. Former co-workers have gone all around the world, and I'm envious of them but also happy for their opportunities.

Some days I do feel my age. (I'm older than you may think I am, but if you do the math based on my life story above, you can probably figure out how old I am.) I can't sit criss-cross-applesauce for as long as I used to, and I can't kneel or crouch for long, either.

But then I'll snap "that picture" or get to talk to a particularly fascinating person, and all the aches and pains, the long hours and the hard work fade. I remember how much fun my job really is. And that tides me over.