In some ways, I guess, there are parallels to what is happening to newspapers and experienced qualified journalists now, and what happened with air traffic controllers in the 80’s or those nearing their pension age in the 70’s. However, the potential consequences seem far more sinister and encompassing. We could always refuse to fly, or get under a flight path, and despite the efforts of the Gray Panthers, we could pretend that the loss of 64-/1/2 year old pensions mostly affected them.

Your new life must be personally difficult in many ways, since un-chosen, you must transform yourself. However, I have no doubt you will continue in some way to do what you love. We are all the better for it.

And you’re so right. The things I learned on the job — watching more senior reporters handle difficult and a million different things, learning every day — was worth more than anything in a book.

My whole world was learning from other people, being a conduit.

Now I’m holed up alone at home, blogging. Freelance assignments don’t require any human interaction.

I’ve been trying to help a group of dedicated but disorganized “citizen journalists” help learn the craft of reporting on a board dedicated to finding the killers in cold cases.

The people who love what they do will continue to do it. And I hope all the smart people like you find them and help them spread the word!

Thanks for finding my blog up there on your blog. Bloggy hugs.