Pam's Pen

Pam's Pen -

It's hard to know where to start.

What's the protocol for saying goodbye?

When I was hired as a reporter for the Aurora in March 2004, I thought I would be here forever. I found a job in my field of study in a town I loved, which just happened to be in the town where I grew up. As far as I was concerned, it didn't get any better than that.

Over the last six years, I have had the privilege of telling the stories important to people in Labrador West and I have loved every moment of it.

From the high of following federal, provincial, and municipal politics, to the heartbreak of writing about a woman's struggle with cancer, I feel like I've touched on a little bit of everything over my short career.

I have been trying to pinpoint my favourite stories, but every time I go through my library of memories, I think of another person, another story, another occasion and I've realized I don't have a favourite. Every interview is different, every story is special and each one has impacted me in a different way.

I have been angry, sad, happy, shocked, and excited all in the run of a week depending on the situation and I've learned a lot along the way.

It hasn't always been easy, but it was always interesting.

So why am I leaving? Good question.

The answer is complicated. There's no one reason.

Now if I asked that question to a person in an interview and that's the answer they gave, I wouldn't be satisfied and would ask him/her to elaborate.

But honestly, I don't know what to say.

I have loved being a reporter - I have always wanted to be out there interacting with the public and I love writing - but it's time for a change.

It's been a hard decision for me to make, but in the end I want to feel challenged, and though I'm excited to move on to something new, a piece of me will always be at the paper.

My byline has appeared on hundreds of stories over the last six years and I take comfort in knowing the work I've done will be always be there for the world to see.

But I will miss the people.

I feel like I've forged strong bonds with the community through my work, but in many cases it's the news that binds us and it's hard to cut that cord.

Though I won't be far away, the constant communication will no longer be there.

The days of picking up the phone and calling a contact just to see what's new and whether it's worth a story will be a memory after May 3.

The long nights of helping the editor put the paper together are over. The afternoon meetings, the long lunches, the countless interviews and story meetings will be no more.

This community is an amazing place to live and work. It's offered me a world of opportunity I never would have had anywhere else and there aren't enough words to express exactly how much working at the Aurora has meant to me. I have the residents of Lab. West to thank for that.

Thank you for welcoming me into your homes. Thank you for trusting me with your stories. Keep up all the good work you do, and please, please keep in touch. It's been a pleasure.