It's the "Last Day".

Today is the last day in the longest chapter of my life. It's my last official day as an employee at MSU.

My last office on the 5th floor CAS.

Yeah, I've been on vacation since mid-December, but ever since then I've been saying "I'm on vacation." After today, I'm retired/unemployed.

I've been working steady since the summer after 8th grade, when I started working in the record store. After that I worked on the Ford assembly line, in a warehouse, as a telemarketer, and as an aluminum siding applicator. And, since I was 20 years old, I've worked full-time making TV.

When I started, I was the youngest staffer. When I left, I was the oldest.

[Note: I was an employee at Broadcasting Services longer than anyone. My 44 years is a record.]

Even before that, I worked. I had a paper route, I mowed lawns. One year I sold Christmas trees.

That's done. Over.

(Actually not, since I will contract with WKAR to produce "QuizBusters" in the fall.)

It's with mixed feelings that I have come to this place. I look forward to the freedom that retirement brings, but there's still a feeling of loss.

This morning, I went to Erickson Hall, where I started at ITV on January 3rd, 1972. The place looks nothing like it did then. But, I could still feel a sense of place.

Used to be the ITV front door.

The WKAR quonset is gone.

I will still visit Comm Arts, where I spent 34 years. Maybe tomorrow, as a "visitor".

Welcome to retirement!  *sigh*