Meet my new workplace — The Forum Communications Company, home of The Forum newspaper where I just started as a full-time employee.
Sixteen years ago, I left my budding writing career as a newspaper journalist to focus on raising our firstborn son. Following him came another, another, another and another child. Each new addition to our family seemed to take me further and further from the newsroom where I’d begun.
But as of this week, I’m back. And I’m realizing that even though I’ve been away all these years, I never fully removed myself from the heart of what I left. My writing continued. I became a children’s author and speaker. I wrote articles for magazines, press releases for a company whose mission I love, and took part in many other communications endeavors, including my own small business focusing on this work.
But when I learned our local paper, where I’ve been working as a columnist since 2008, was looking for a full-time reporter for its new SheSays section (for which I’ve been writing as a contributor since October), it seemed like an opportunity too fitting to pass by. I know how to do interviews and fashion a story from information I’ve worked hard to gather. And I’ve been writing primarily for a readership comprising mainly women for many years. I honestly can’t imagine a better match. And I’m grateful others thought so as well.
Yesterday was my first day back on the job outside the home. Here I am wearing the glittery, purple shirt my teen daughter picked out for me this past weekend. The necklace was given to me by a friend. I feel like I was bringing pieces of my current world into my new world.
This move has been a leap for our family, but not a leap in terms of professional qualifications and comfort. I feel like a fish back in her native waters. And I feel good about the fact that I’ve returned in many ways a writer who is both wiser and possessing a greater depth of vision than the first go-around.
This is my new desk with my brand-new computer. Do I ever feel lucky!
And a close-up view of an important detail:
The first night after my first day, I was exhausted. My body needs to get used to different hours and my brain needs to settle from all of the information it’s taken in in the past week or so. But my enthusiasm hasn’t waned a bit. I’ve experienced a beautiful virtual send-off by friends on Facebook, and one last lunch with a friend on Monday at my favorite restaurant.
Last week, I chose my Word of the Year: Ready! Less than an hour after I wrote that post, I found out exactly what was waiting for me on the other side of that proclamation.
Thanks for journeying with me these past months. I look forward to sharing more as I am able, and to hearing from you about your growth as a writer in this new year of 2012.
Q4U: What part of your life would you return to if you had a chance to go back and give it another try?
Congratulations, Roxane! By keeping your talents honed and leading a full, rich life, you are MORE than Ready for this new chapter of your life!
Great post! I can feel the enthusiasm through your words. It’s also inspiring to me… I’m fairly certain sometime in 2012 I will reenter the workforce after staying home since my oldest (14, eek!) was born. Just reading your account gets me all fired up to start the job search. Yes, we women dedicate ourselves to raising our kids, but oh, how we still have so much more inside of us to offer.
Best of luck to you in this “new” endeavor, Roxane!
I have to admit, I got a bit teary ready this. Happy tears, of course! You have accomplished SO MUCH in your short 40-odd years. I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. I’m proud of you and for you, my friend.
Hey Congrats Roxane!! I hope it all goes smoothly for you! I am not familiar with Shesays ..but I am sure you will have fun and make it worth reading! Is it online?
You look great in purple!
Yay for you!! Purple looks great on you 🙂 I hope you settle in quickly and rediscover those newsroom roots you planted long ago!
Congratulations Roxane! Looking forward to seeing your by line more regularily.
My uncle, Tom Lucier, won a Pulitzer while working at the Forum. I hope you can do the same.
Deacon Joe Hilber
Roxane – you were and are READY to return to full time journalism at the Forum. I am very happy for you.
Many years ago, when I was single from the late 1960s to the early 1970s I was a consultant in elementary education for a textbook company with a nine state territory while based in Kansas City, MO. I hadn’t had a chance to shop for the ingredients for a potluck contribution, so before I returned my rental car I stopped at a Fargo grocery store for two cans of pork and beans. After my plane landed in Kansas City I had just enough time to heat the beans before heading to the potluck.
I am retired now so will be continuing to work with my blog, but those were good days. I wish you many good days as well with your return to a perfect fit position for you.
Beautiful picture! Congratulations!
Congratulations! I’m glad your first day was great. And, I think the color of the shirt was a great symbol of how you fit right in. So glad that it felt like slipping back into familiar waters. You are surely ready and able to succeed.
I wouldn’t go back to any time. Even though there are times I could have done things differently, they got me to where I am today, which is wonderful and full of so much opportunity.
Thank you everyone for your encouragement. I wish I could reply to each one, but this full-time work business is full and busy. I’m scrambling a bit for time to get everything I used to do done plus all the new stuff. Finding that new priorities are dictating some of my schedule, but I am reading and taking in your kind thoughts, and it’s really added to what I will post about tomorrow on my faith and family blog, Peace Garden Mama. 🙂
Roxane,this post was an inspiration to me! My youngest child is now almost nine, and I’m starting to feel that it might be time for me to make the move into (nearly) full-time writing. (I admit to feeling a twinge of envy when I saw the photograph of your new desk and computer!) I found myself thinking, “If Roxane can do it, so can I.” Thanks for putting the bug in my ear, and congratulations in your new job!