Since writers love analogies, metaphors, and symbolism, it’s only fitting that, in my mind, my entire time here at the Sun can be wrapped up into one tiny bouncy ball—the coveted “mosaic,” as we dubbed it—and I’ve lost it. (Not my mind, the ball.)
Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but I’d already decided to take that ball with me as a reminder of how much fun I’ve had working for the Sun. Instead, I guess I’m just going to have to let it go. And yes, I did look under the couch, and under my desk and in my co-workers’ bouncy ball stashes. Sigh.
Three years ago, when I first started working for the Sun, we became a bit obsessed with bouncy balls. I think it was a perfect storm of distraction, fun, and needing an outlet. Journalism can be a stressful profession. Also, it was fun.
My editor Ryan Miller, Arts Editor Craig Shafer, News Editor Andrea Rooks, our trusty intern Joe Payne, and I would run to the restaurant two doors down from our office and spend our quarters to win these balls in a little arcade-like game they had. We filled the office with them, and they became a source of infinite mirth as competition broke out over who could collect the best balls, who had the rarest balls (me), and how many times a day we could make funny double entendres using the word “balls.” (Many, many times, in case you were wondering.)
As you’ve probably guessed already, the Sun is not a normal paper. It’s much better. I remember when I first interviewed for this job … I wouldn’t say that I agonized over what to wear, but I did put some thought into it. I settled on a pair of gray slacks and a red shirt. When I got there, Ryan, my prospective boss, was barefoot.
I should have known then that I was in for a ride, but at the time all I could do was look down at Ryan’s hobbit-like feet and wonder if I was a bit overdressed.
Now I’m leaving the Sun. A few days ago, as I was taking a couple of minutes to thin out the contents of my desk, I found the clips and resume that I gave to Ryan that day. The resume is a bit sparse, and the clips a bit messy (but not without potential).
“Why did you hire me based on this?” I asked Ryan, who by the way, wears shoes most of the time now. (Ed. note: They’re sandals.)
“Because you seemed like a good fit,” he said.
I was a good fit, because three weeks after that interview, I started my job as staff writer at the Santa Maria Sun, in a cubicle so small that calling it a cubicle is a bit generous. It was more of a cubby. I think that Ryan just needed someone who would literally fit in the space they had.
This was my first full-time job at a newspaper, and it hit me right away that if I didn’t write my section of the paper, nobody would. So I worked sick, I worked late, and eventually I got the hang of things. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s never been boring, which worked out well for me, because trying not to be bored was my inspiration for becoming a journalist in the first place.
In college, when soil science (yes, soil science—you have a problem with that?) didn’t work out, and I went searching for a new major. Armed with my writing skills and a rapier-sharp wit, I decided to study journalism, so that I would always be able to work on something new and learn new things. The plan worked.
I’ve learned a lot about myself, and about being a journalist in the last three years. I’ve discovered the best ways to conduct interviews, and how to put people at ease while drilling them with questions. I’ve learned that everyone has a story, and how to recognize the best ones.
I now know that people are just people, and there’s no reason to be intimidated by anyone, whether they’re an elected official, professional athlete, big time executive, or a pee-wee football mom (though after getting pee-wee football mom spittle in my face, I have learned to be more careful).
I’ve also learned that no matter what, things change—in the news, and in our lives. Since we once collected balls together (see how easy those funny entendres are?) a lot has changed here at the Sun. Andrea is now a full-time mom, Craig does publicity for PCPA … again, Joe is no longer a high school student but a mostly mature college student, and Ryan is a father and back in the office, after leaving for a while to take charge of New Times.
As for me, my cubby has turned into an alcove, and my role as a staff writer morphed into sports editor. Soon, I’ll be working in the Public Affairs Department at Allan Hancock College and, as cheesy as it sounds, I’m looking forward to putting to good use everything I’ve learned here at the Sun.
It’s been a fun ride.
Sports Editor Sarah E. Thien never wrote her own taglines either. Send comments to the executive editor at rmiller@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 13-20, 2008.