In my eight-plus years as a journalist I've learned a few things.That time flies when you're having fun.That it also flies when you're being threatened with lawsuits, cancelled subscriptions, and physical harm by readers of your paper.That there's a lot more to this job than going to a game and reporting the score.That everyone thinks they can do it better than you.But mostly that this is a job that requires equal parts encouragement, co-operation, and constructive criticism to get it right.With that in mind, goodbye and thank you:To Darryl Russell, Jennie Taylor, Braden Hubick, Brooke Spagrud, Andy Smoliak, Jessie Elias, Brian Hayes, Kerri Hayes, Rachel Heard, Laura Rodgers, Eric De Ruyck, Mike Wilson, Erin Wilson, Kris Wyatt, Ryan Burke, James Potoma, Jocelyn Loustel, Stefan Riglin.To Matt Kuntz, Mason Schick, Daniel Wenham, Blair Stepp, Derek Pele, Kyle Hoium, Donovan Florek, Kelly Kjersem, John Lay, Joe Lingelbach, Dalton Giblett, Doug Donald, the Fort Qu'Appelle Falcons midget A hockey team.To Chad Saxon, Norm Park, Marlene Gaudry, Brant Kersey, Peter Ng, Melanie Tribiger, Kerry Mack, Jodi Gagnon, Deanna Tarnes, Glennys Dorwart, Jan Boyle, Kristen O'Handley, Cindy Beaulieu, Carol Toth, Colleen MacDonald, Janelle Butler, Gayle Worsnop, Kim Schoff, Brian Rodgers, Renee Paton (nee Pylypuk), Tonaya Marr, Cheyenne Geysen.To Barry O'Handley, Pat O'Handley, Nick Laevens, Dana Laevens, Corbett Deren, Jen Anderson, Brad Hamn, Chris Morgan, Donna George, Andrew Tait, Becky Tait.To Brian Senchuk, Marco Ricci, Joel Moriarty, Mel Murray, Tom Copeland, Brenda Lyons, Evan Handley, Jordon Blanchette, Nathan Johnson, Chris Hammett, Doug Trapp, Jeff Yanko, Dan Pratt, Greg Fieber, Kent Phillips, Murray Fischer, Blaine Weyland, Janice Grocholski, Lindsay Collins, Carmon Lindquist, Jody Harris.To Chad Filteau, Liam Brennan, Scott Doucet, Riley Tetreault, Brody Haygarth, Dylan Smith, Lucas Stubel, Kyle Garagan, Brant Harris, Mark Cross, Tommy Legault, Chris Neamonitis, Kyle Johnson, Matt Luongo, Jorden MacSwain, Richard Jodoin, Ian Clarke, Derek Nernberg, Tyler Fleck, Serge Poulin, Glen Watson, Gary McKechney, Doug Allan, Richard Winton, Gerry Aspen, Jaime Garrett.To Aaron Turnbull, Davin Emmel, Joren Boyce, Hank Berry, Jim Harris, Allen Kent, Chris Hortness, Devin Raynard, Jay Noteboom, Brian Mullen, Brendon Labatte, Dave Mack, Pat Boyle, Ed Turnbull, James Gustafson.To Michael Landsberg, Gord Miller, Steve Yzerman, Ken Holland, Jeff Odgers, Ron Areshenkoff, Mike Hoover, Chris Getzlaf, Stu Foord, Ray Scapinello, Jeremy O'Day, Weston Dressler.To Wes Cates, Chris Szarka, Luc Mullinder, Mike McCullough, Rod Pederson, George Reed, Eric Tillman, Michael Palmer, Scott Schultz, Lanny MacDonald, Dennis Hull, Big John McCarthy, Arda Ocal, Joe E. Legend, Randy and Mr. Lahey, Traci Brooks, Bad Ass Billy Gunn, Road Dogg Jesse James, Bushwhacker Luke, and Hurricane Helms.To Calder Clark, Tyler Kendall, Derek Wallace, Riley Spencer, Dylan Lafrentz, Zach Rensby, Jaren Prokop, Graham Hunt, Shalane Haselhan, Lindsay Clark, Bryan Gowen, Rhett Handley, Ryan Ostertag, Ben Findlay, Joel Danyluk, Steph Leray, Shaunacee MacKay.To Wyatt Garagan, Matt Cundall, Ryan Smith, Lloyd Sehn, Brayden Pachal, Cole Fonstad, Cindy Ricci, Robin Ulrich.To Team Ramrod, Mel Gibson, Andre the Giant, Jim Workman, Motley Crue, the City of Las Vegas, and raisins too.To Janet Ehrmantraut, Kelly Hudym, Audrey MacMurchy, Tanis Savill, Karla Haygarth, Bonnie Curzon, Lorelei Lachambre, Shawna Irwin, Shauna Earl, Darren Rog, Bob McKenzie.And finally to Jodie Pratt, Craig Kickley, Juanita Phillips, Tara Daoust, Karry Biette, Dale Moore, Joan Selk, and the people of Lumsden.Regret nothing. Learn from everything. Laugh lots. Stay off the pipe, and don't forget to wipe. Peace!Brad Brown can no longer be reached by phone at 634-2654 or by e-mail at [email protected].
