-30-

The jig is up.
After 30 years of trying to get it first, fast and right, my days of chasing ambulances, run-away politicians and the truth have drawn to a close.
I'm retiring.
My first job, at a fruit market in 1956, paid 25 cents an hour. I thought I was rich. I was 11 years old.
I graduated to washing dishes, waiting tables, life guarding, worm picking, hay tossing and when I walked up the aisle in 1962, I was thrown into a family business.
A marriage breakup in 1974 sent me back to waiting tables and to school. When I graduated from Durham College's journalism program two years later, I had $9 in the bank, five kids and no job.
A day later, I scored a commission-only job selling aluminum siding. Chasing a lead, I took a late night flight to Kapuskasing, only to return the next day when my boss was arrested.
With the business owner in handcuffs and a bankruptcy seal across the door, my days selling siding were over. Facing a $73 overdraft, it took me three days to sign a one-year contract as a counsellor with the Ministry of Social Services, immediately followed by a second year-long contract with the Durham Region Separate School Board, co-ordinating a regionwide volunteer recruitment program.
Since I was poor, a product of white Anglo-Saxon Protestant work ethic, a single mom and wore my heart on my sleeve, I was a good counsellor and, while never a Christian, Catholic or otherwise, I stood proud when placing 1,000 volunteers into 25 schools.
In mid-February 1978, I walked into what is now a Metroland Publishing newsroom. On Jan. 30, 2008, I'll walk out.
I'm taking a little side trip. Tomorrow, I have a date with a surgeon. After he mends a broken heart, I'll be fit as a fiddle.   
My place in my family and my career in journalism will always define me. In the past 30 years, my five hard-to-raise children became adults, nine grandchildren arrived and my mother died. Seldom did my reporter's cap come off.
Covering Durham Region for 19 years and York Region for the past 11, I have produced thousands of stories, covering everything from murders to meetings. Some stories won awards, a few ticked people off, but none turned up in a court of law — I've never been sued.
A few months ago, Metroland, representing about 140 newspapers, chose me as the reporter of the year. When I took to the stage to accept the Presidents' Award, I realized a job well done matters.
Over the past three decades, I was privileged to meet many outstanding people. Besides prime ministers, premiers and United States presidents, I interviewed a world champion rattlesnake bagger, a man sporting a diamond in every tooth and a bank robber. There have been stories about three-legged dogs, overpaid call girls, convincing transvestites, born-again virgins, at-large boa-constrictors, phony money and politicians of every shape, size and stripe.
Most politicians are honest. A few aren't. One thing I noticed: Every time a politician is arrested, the others run for cover, but not before accusing the media of sticking its nose into places it doesn't belong. While all law-breaking politicians claim to be as pure as the driven snow, the only innocent one I covered was an Oshawa councillor charged with fishing out of season.
To bring in the story, I've ran with the foxes and hunted with the hounds. It took barbed-wire willpower and absolute tenacity to open some doors. But, you got the story.
I've been a hands-on journalist. In the name of news, I rode in a submarine, flew in an air show, soared beneath the clouds in a hot air balloon and was plucked from Lake Ontario by the crew of a rescue boat after jumping overboard. I have attended a biker's funeral and accepted an invitation to the after party at the clubhouse, led a camel in a parade, got trapped beneath a raft while shooting rapids on the Ottawa River, fell face-down in the mud at a train wreck, got struck in the head by a board-wielding scab and was chastised by a judge for covering a crime before reporting it to police.
The news business was a good fit. With an attention span like a hummingbird, I got as much as I gave.
It must be said that I have a great deal of respect for the media. Its editors, photographers and reporters all play a critical part in the preservation of democracy. The people who stay in the media for the long haul are hard-working, talented and caring people who deserve a communitywide standing ovation. Even though, my loyalty has always been to the reader, I tip my hat to this ever changing, always improving and community-building industry. 
I leave the same as I arrived: in awe of the media and a very nosey person.

Comments

[Tim Jones]

Good Luck Joan,
Always found your columns of interest, some perhaps more than others. Your passion for politics is evident
All the best
Tim

[Darryl Wolk]

Congratulations Joan on a great career in journalism and all of the unique life experiences you have encountered on the job. Your reporting and opinions will be missed in Newmarket and York Region I am sure. All the best in the next phase of your life and thank you for all your years of serving the community and your readers in an objective way.

P.S. Thanks for stopping by Kapuskasing, not many people have been to the town I was born in ten hours North of Newmarket.

[Mayor Margaret Black]

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement and best wishes for a future filled with fun, joy and laughter.

Thank you for your many years of dedication and hard work. I will truly miss reading your blogs and detailed articles about our community.

Sincerely,

Mayor Margaret Black

[Andrew Keyes]

I will miss your commentary and your wit Joan.

Enjoy your retirement and please don't be a stranger. I hope you continue to pop by and post a comment or two.

All the best,

Andrew

[Jean Graham]

Dear Joan:
All the best to you in the future. I have been following your blogs for some time and have always looked forward to your point of view on various subjects. I am truly going to miss checking in on you.

Jean Graham

[Jane Twinney]

I have read your blogs and have listened to some very funny tape recordings!!
I wish you all the best and may I only get to experience some of the things you have.

Jane Twinney

[Jack Hauseman]

JOAN - Just wanted to wish you the very best in your retirement - now you'll be able to do what you want when you want LOLOL! Thanks for being such a great media voice in York Region! Regards, JACK HAUSEMAN

[Martin]

Hopefully that means you will be able to spend more time blogging!

One can dream, can't he?

[An Auroran]

Best of luck with whatever your future brings!

Maybe they could get Evelyn Buck's blog posted here now that you're retired. She has lots to say.

[Anonymous Anonymous]

its about time.