Thank you, Southeast Missouri

All right, readers. If you're expecting a hilarious and insightful article right now, then stop reading. But you can keep on reading if you'd like ... please?

Now this isn't a farewell column or anything; I'm just dedicating an article this week to the Southeast Missourian and readers of my column who deserve a special thanks.

It's hard to believe that it was July 2003 when my first column was published. It doesn't seem like it could have possibly been that long ago.

But it has been, and in that time I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people, respond to readers who either love me or hate me, and learn a little about what it's like to be a journalist.

And it's all thanks to the helpful staff of the Southeast Missourian and whoever takes the time to read, or even scan, what I wrote.

More specifically, I would like to thank Laura Johnston for allowing me and other local students to write for the Class of 2morrow page and for the awesome opportunity to write several features and even a front page story.

Also, I would like to thank Fred Lynch, Joseph Midkiff, Gabe Hartwig and Don Frazier for putting some terrific pictures and illustrations alongside my articles.

Next come the readers. What can I say? There's such a variety of you.

Some people say I remind them of when they were my age, think I'm funny and have a lot of talent. And some of you think I'm the devil's advocate, who has been sent to wreak nothing but havoc upon Southeast Missouri.

Then there's always Speak Out, where readers may mention my name for others to see. And some bring their joy or anger to me, the source of it all.

What do you say we look at some of the quotes from readers' e-mails?

"You write with a gentle and insightful touch. And the humor is delightful," wrote one very nice Cape Girardeau man. "I want to thank you very much for the smiles and memories. I wish you well, my friend. Good luck. God bless you. And thank you."

Now on to one of my favorites: "I have been bemoaning not having grandchildren until I read your article in Tuesday's paper. Now I thank God. Oh, I know I can't paint all of the grandchildren of the world with the same paintbrush. Well, I have wasted enough time on you -- GROW UP," wrote one very unhappy woman.

Now I will admit that latter comment was e-mailed to me after I wrote a column making fun of something my grandmother said and how some, I repeat, SOME older (and younger, I've come to realize) people have trouble with technology. Needless to say, several of you were more than happy to show me that you know how to use e-mail and prove me wrong. And to those people, I sincerely apologize.

In closing, I would like to sum up my year and a half with the Southeast Missourian as nothing but an enjoyable and satisfying experience. And for those who either support me or don't, I wanted to thank you for taking even just a few seconds out of your day to read the newspaper.

Thank you for all the opportunities.

Sam DeReign is a freshman at Southeast Missouri State University and a graduate of Oran High School. Contact him at sdereign@ semissourian.com.