Good morning Lake Minnetonka.
I've recited those words each morning for the last 30 months as I climbed out of bed and hit the shower. Akin to a quarterback or stand-up comedian, it was my ritualistic way of centering my thoughts and beginning my preparation for the day.
Today I say good morning to Lake Minnetonka for the last time. That makes me sad, but it simultaneously feels right.
Lake Minnetonka Patch launched April 1, 2011. We had no newsletter subscribers, a shiny new Facebook page and a blank Twitter account. Nobody in Wayzata or Excelsior or Mound knew what Patch was, and it was my job to change that.
I landed this site's editorship after five years at the helm of small newspaper in northern Minnesota, and I was excited to be handed such a sweet gig, be given a clean sheet of paper and a chance to cover such an enviable beat.
I moved my family here—gave up my beloved dog, found a cheap apartment and put my daughter in the Minnetonka School District. Layla, our dog, now lives on a farm and is doing just fine, by the way.
So am I. I’m lucky, and I know it.
I've known for two months that today would be my last day with Patch, and I've gone through a range of emotions: anger and glee, optimism and fear.
Today, as we chat for the last time, I feel at peace. I'm feeling nostalgic but happy.
The truth is that I'm tired—weary of the endless news cycle, the emotional ups and downs all writers go through and being only as good as the last story or page view count. After a decade in the news business, I no longer want to write for public consumption at this point in my life. I've lost hope that I can change the world.
So, it's someone else's turn—someone more optimistic, more energetic and more talented.
Lake Minnetonka Patch won’t be going anywhere right now. The site will live on while our parent company, AOL, explores its options and decides its future. The same goes for Patch sites throughout Minnesota and across the country.
Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
I’m grateful for our time together and for the opportunity I’ve been provided. It has been both and honor and a privilege to be welcomed into your world. I hope Patch has enhanced your life and provided you with knowledge about the on goings in your community.
I hope I left things better than I found them.
Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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