From one career to another

Last weekend, colleagues gathered at a local restaurant to celebrate Sarah's time at the paper. She joined three in her bureau taking a buyout, walking off from a floundering craft into the rainy horizon.



Here are the three candidates now, gathered round Tom, the bureau chief. That's Wanda on the left, an editor for both Brent and Sarah in her career, though we were not highlights of it. And that's Kate on the right, a reporter/writer/mother/shaman.



These are real-life journalists. Newspaper people. Part, until last week, of the "mainstream media" that Sarah Palin vilifies. They don't bite. They don't say "Gotcha!" all the time. They have families and eat and drink and care about the world they live in. The woman talking to Sarah -- Ann -- also recently left the paper to teach. She works with developmentally disabled kids at a local high school. She loves it. She suggested Sarah look into education as her next career.



Claire made her rounds. At one point, she waltzed up to the bar in the background and yelled "Can I have some apple juice?!?!" four times until a bartender noticed. She got what she wanted --juice, on the rocks, with two slender straws. Uncle Andy made sure she drank it.



Bob, a retired photographer, graciously attended and took to Claire, interviewing her as if he'd been a reporter himself and as if she were the star we think she is.



Claire also got to know Kate's daughter, Lilly, who tolerated Claire stalking her every move.





Sarah woke up the day after this event, a Monday, and said, "I feel nervous." She was "unemployed" and facing the next chapter of her life. She was now a stay-at-home mom.

Is there such a term as "overemployed?"

Sarah has threatened to take over this blog, or another one named more appropriately, to reflect the more compelling and constructive tale of how she raises our two girls. "Hardhats and sippy cups" may still apply, however. It may be even more apt now.