“Hey Kathryn — What on earth am I going to do?

“Hey Kathryn — What on earth am I going to do?

This year I’ve pushed through comfort zones. Changed things. But what if someone else in my life, a constant steadying influence, decided to change on me.

Poo.

Kathryn Schiliro, the Citizen’s Managing Editor for 5 years, is leaving her post. She and her staff put out award-winning newspapers week after week, month after month, year after year. Our community will miss her terribly.

But what about me, Kate? For five years’ worth of emails, you were my sounding board. What on earth I am going to do without you?

Friday, 8-28-2009 “Dear Kathryn, Hope rain is going to be done by tonight’s game. Not really into sitting on wet metal in rain gear. Thanks for always listening to me….you’re my silent, very inexpensive therapist. Bye, j”

Monday, 10-5-2009 “Dear Kathryn, Intercession is to PUNISH parents. Here is column. Have great week. Jamie”

Monday, 10-12-2009 “Dear Kathryn, I really tried to proof, hope I caught everything. Could it rain any harder? After Bobby’s Boot Camp, my biceps are sooo huge right now. j”

Monday, 11-16-2009 “Dear Kathryn, What a beautiful warm day. I have on shorts and flip-flops. Only real sad part of such a great afternoon is seeing how sickly white my legs (esp. my feet) have gotten in a month and a half. Have a great week. Jamie”

Monday 3-22-2010 “Dear Kathryn, I conquered my negativity surrounding the ING race yesterday. After 2 years of sleeping in, I did it. Though I miscalculated on the time and was late leaving. I made it to the Doraville Marta station from here in 50 minutes. But I still might have lingering bad mojo about automated carwashes. Hope you have a great week. Jamie”

Monday 7-5-2010 “Dear Kathryn, Was having trouble with email as you can tell by the billion times my column went through. And do you think $200 is too much to pay for Justin Bieber tickets? I am thinking of taking HK as a surprise. j”

Monday 11-1-2010 “I’m late. And Lord knows, not in the female way. Will be sending column along shortly. Wrote on prayer — not GA/FL. Not like I needed to alienate any readers. j”

Week after week, you listened to how I can’t control my children, saw me through health scares and midlife woes. Each Tuesday, it seemed as if 5 p.m. Monday was forever away. Then I would blink and the weekly deadline had come and gone.

Just like you.

Take it from a gal with a bit more mileage, when you look back on your years here – you’ll be proud. With her hand on the pulse of the community, an editor stands guardian over triumphs and tragedies — from school board meetings to beer stolen from a neighbor’s fridge. (That never can be proven whatever you might hear.)

So you’re off to conquer new vistas. The Citizen is poised to keep rolling out award-winning papers. And Morgan County will be fine too. That leaves me. And she’s the one I’m worried about. But you already knew that. So guess this session’s over. Only a little late and little over the word count.

Have a great rest of the journey dear Kathryn – j.

Who else could be this Wednesday’s Inspiring Woman but Kathryn Schiliro? Pop into my blog for my e-chat with this amazing young woman.