BY THE WAY: LEAVING BEHIND MEMORIES, FRIENDS IS TOUGH

The first and last of anything is cause for reflection and deserves some sorting out.

The first kiss, the first job, the first venture into the real world. They all seem scary, exciting, necessary and momentous.

My first column was about my father taking me to my first major league baseball game and the cancer that made us all deal with something harsh.

It seemed strange to put it all in print. Yet baring my soul in that fashion brought its own reward. There was a sense of cleansing and coming to terms with something that was deeply rooted in my soul since childhood.

This being my final column for the Southeast Missourian, I am experiencing many of those same thoughts and emotions.

How do you cram nearly 14 years of living in Cape Girardeau into one column? I suppose the answer is carefully and with some thought.

Once I realized I would accept the position of senior publications editor with Dayton University there was a feeling of exhilaration. I would be moving on to a job that is not easy to get. I was one of four finalists, yet they picked me.

Because Dayton University is run by Marianist priests, perhaps this will become my final chance at redemption. My sisters jokingly tell me I'm beyond redemption.

At any rate, as the days wore on and the reality of my decision materialized in matters such as moving, finding a new place and saying goodbye to friends, I felt a twinge or two of sadness and regret.

I would be leaving a comfort zone and moving into an area that carries no guarantees. But at this stage of my career, that is what I must do to continue to grow and be happy.

There will probably be some moment when I'm going through a daily routine in Ohio that leads to a thought or two of what I left behind. I will think of a talented Southeast Missourian staff I felt proud to work with.

I will think of nights of introspection on the banks of the Mississippi. I will remember how comfortable it was to walk into the Playdium and have a conversation with people as genuine and pure as any I've ever met.

Perhaps I will miss summer nights on the deck at the Bel Air. But hopefully new friends and experiences will help bridge the gap and lead me into my new world with some ease and comfort.

People who live in Southeast Missouri have shown me that there is often something extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary. They do it with kindness and a sense of selflessness that I will always admire.

Extraordinary defines the time I spent covering sports for 12 years. I felt lucky to have met and written about Southeast Missouri State basketball coach Ron Shumate.

He is easily the most talented and dedicated coach I have ever met.

I wish I could carry much of what gave my life meaning from Cape Girardeau to Dayton, but it just doesn't work that way. I learned some time ago that we often define who we are by how we handle the difficult tests.

This will not be easy, but I know deep down it's the right move at this juncture in my life. To anyone who let me into their life, either during an interview for a story or as a friend, I say thank you.

Bill Heitland, a longtime member of the Southeast Missourian staff, has accepted the position of senior publications editor at Dayton University in Ohio.