Robert Frost, redux
Jan 31, 2018
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth ...
It’s time.
It’s been a good run.
Friday will be my last day as editor of the Winona Daily News.
This will probably come as a surprise to a number of folks. For years I’ve told people — perhaps you’re one of them — what I foresaw in retirement just couldn’t compete with being in the newsroom. After all, while I was working at the newspaper, every now and again Gov. Dayton would drop in to chat and that just didn’t happen in most lines of work. I’d tell folks I just couldn’t think of anything that would be any more fun and interesting than what I’m doing now.
I couldn’t imagine a better job, and I didn’t even have to wear a tie.
I really enjoyed doing what I do — most of it, anyway…
But life is full of little surprises ... and not such little surprises. And generally the time and nature of those surprises aren’t always of our choosing — otherwise they wouldn’t be surprises.
Well, Mark Dayton’s not going to be governor for long either. Maybe we can get together for coffee sometime. Who knows?
Then took the other as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
But it’s been a good run.
I came to the Daily News looking for opportunities and got them aplenty. Over the years, I’ve worked with great editors and publishers; writers and designers — and still do. Together we’ve done a lot of outstanding journalism — and had a whooping good time along the way.
I’ve spent a career with folks who care about what we do — deeply and every day. They’ve taught me a lot, about this craft and about what it means to be a committed, contributing part of a community. A guy just doesn’t do much better than that.
But there’s no denying that the Daily News is a vastly different organization than it was when I arrived just six weeks shy of 18 years ago. In the past 20 years, the entire communications industry has been turned upside down, inside out and more. That’s not to lay blame or look for fault. One hundred years ago, buggy builders and harness makers struggled with a new technology — the horseless carriage. Shifting public demand sent thousands of wheelwrights and farriers in search of new careers.
It happens.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black,
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I’m of an age and circumstance where retiring didn’t pose a financial hardship and it made room in the organization for some of the folks I helped recruit. They’re going to do fine.
As for me, I’m still a little bit hazy on what comes next — I guess that’s not too surprising when a guy has to work out a plan for the rest of his life.
But I have a partner who gives me laughter, purpose and pumpkin bread; and when I need it, she reminds me I still put my pants on one leg at a time. I have good, good friends and a family who thinks I’m pretty swell, but don’t need me spending too much time sipping on their good whisky and teaching the grandkid new bad habits.
So I’ll do fine, too.
One thing I do know — and I’m sorry to disappoint you folks who may be hoping otherwise — but you’re not rid of me entirely. Although I’m stepping down as editor – which means no more conference calls with corporate VPs, fussing with budgets and overdue expense accounts — plans are for me to still annoy some folks with a column every week and put my hand to other writing projects as the spirit moves and the new editor sees fit.
Beyond that — who knows?
There will be plenty more little surprises to come. That I’m sure of.
I have no idea what they’ll be. If I did, they wouldn’t be surprises, would they?
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
— Robert Frost; The Road Not Taken, 1916