Beginnings and endings- signing off, from Diane

Is it just me, or do there seem to be a lot of endings this year? I'm not sure if I am more aware now because I'm a housewife with more time to talk to friends and to reflect, but it sure feels like a lot of people are closing up chapters in their lives.

I've heard about divorces, quittings, relocations, and deaths. Five friends or acquaintances of mine died this year.

Bridging the transition! Photo: Sisto Domingo

A friend who likes numerology, Melissa Kurpinski, pointed out 2016 is a "nine" year, and that nine is the end of a cycle. You add 2 + 1 + 6 = 9. She said this to me in January and I've thought about it every time I hear about another closure.

At my former job as a newscaster.

My endings: I left my KHON2 news job over the summer, and today I stop writing for this paper. Management told me the Honolulu Star-Advertiser is effectively closing its blogging department, so I will write the end of this chapter, too.

It's been a really fun seven and a half years as a blogger, and I thank the newspaper for having me. I love writing as therapy, though I wasn't sure when I started what it would be like to commit to a regular writing schedule for a column that was essentially - to borrow from Seinfeld - all about nothing. Turns out it was a joy!

I wrote about professional musician Trey Terada, aka Dr. Trey

I made Small Talk with you, and some of you chatted back - thanks! Whatever seemed interesting, whoever seemed interesting, I wrote about. I enjoyed it, and I hope you did, too. Thanks for stopping by.

You accompanied me through three jobs and two housewife stints (KHNL, Halekulani, KHON2), through my child's early life (I'm now halfway through my legal obligation!), and on journeys real and philosophical. I appreciate you for listening.

The kind folks at Hawaii: In Real Life (www.hawaiiirl.com) offered to host me, so I'll have a page there. I won't have a set schedule. I'll post when I want, and then I'll post a link to my social media to let you know something's up.

With this year's haul.

2010 awards with my video partner Tracy Arakakai

Along the way, I'm proud to say this online column (often with the help of my video partner Tracy Arakaki) won a dozen awards from the Society of Professional Journalists' Hawaii chapter, and one Emmy nod:

http://smalltalk.staradvertiserblogs.com/2010/06/29/spj-awards-dinner/   - Kendo practitioner and butterfly farmer

http://smalltalk.staradvertiserblogs.com/2011/06/29/2010-society-of-professional-journalists-awards/  - pregnant pro surfer

http://smalltalk.staradvertiserblogs.com/2012/07/02/bladesmith-series-wins-two-journalism-awards/
- Wolf the blade smith

Tracy shooting Wolf the blade smith.

http://smalltalk.staradvertiserblogs.com/2013/07/08/spj-hawaii-awards/ - candy art - this also got an Emmy nomination!

- Modern Cowboys

I wrote about KHON2's Jai Cunningham

http://smalltalk.staradvertiserblogs.com/2016/07/01/this-blog-wins-society-of-professional-journalists-2015-awards/ - profiles on Jai & Trey

Life changes. You just flow with it. It's all OK.

The end of one story is just the beginning of a new one. May we all find ourselves in an excellent new story. With aloha, Diane

Photo: Russ Tanoue

You can still find me on Facebook: Diane Ako, Instagram: diane_ako, Twitter: Diane Ako, or www.hawaiiirl.com. 

PS: Shortly, comments here will probably not be moderated. Perhaps you can share your opinion on one of my social media accounts. Thanks!