Captain’s Log — It’s a Great Ride …

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, just like Shirley Walker used to tell me after a long day of rural Nevada campaigning, “It’s a great ride, Rachel, if you don’t weaken.”

There’ve been a lot of growing pains around this outfit lately. Our team is expanding and contracting as people find their optimal spot on the staff, or not, and leave to seek their fortunes elsewhere. I’ve made some mistakes as we’ve expanded and then expanded and expanded again. But there appears to be a demand for local news, and we’re uniquely positioned to take advantage of that.

Apparently.

What a problem to have.

There’s some saying going around about being grateful for the problems that come with the dream you’ve had coming true.

It also helps to keep your sense of humor.

There were a couple of times last week where I may have mentioned in passing once or twice that I was beginning to lose my mirth. Thank goodness for my dear ol’ dad who reminded me, “You’ve always been a girl of mirth, don’t lose that.”

Some days seem like slogging through quicksand from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. There’s a very long list of things that need to get done and you feel like someone has confused motion with progress. One day last week, as I got up from my desk and waited for my legs to remember what they’re for, it dawned on me just how much fun this all is.

In spite of all the challenges and humiliating, humbling lessons, we’re all learning so much — stretching to find solutions and figure things out in ways we had no idea we could. There is a lot of hidden talent on this team. We’re all just regular people who came together and found a project where we can, in our individual ways, flourish. Each one of these people who are a part of figuring this out with me has a specialty. A piece of them that serves the papers and the community in a way that only they can.

And I find that to be a thing of beauty.

So, while we appreciate the grace in seeing the beauty of what is happening here — the building of what we like to call “civic infrastructure” — we realize it may not always be “fun” but is always gratifying … we’ll still be right here …

… Keeping you Posted.

Rach