TJ has just left the building

This short missive concludes my 5 1/2-year stint at roanoke.com as a cyber-columnist. There has been a paradigm shift and the Times they are a-changin'!

This strange journey started many years back when I was Beth Macy's most committed stalker, er ... fan. One day I told her that I hoped someday to be a columnist. As I put it : "Something akin to Cody Lowe on mescaline." Time and technology progressed and a new concept known as roanoke.com came on the scene. Editor Jim Ellison, looking for local color commentary from amateur Southwest Virginia writers, called me up and offered me the chance to display my tripe to a mass audience. I accepted.

For the next 5 1/2 years I learned much about myself and the precarious process of deadline writing. Many a Thursday night I was up late making deals with the Muses for inspiration.

Some columns didn't make the cut, such as my treatise on the socioecomonic value of phlegm. Many were worthy of reprint in The Roanoke Times. Others proved to be about as popular as the concept of a Mungo Jerry reunion. But when they hit, they hit big.

The column where I proved the letter 'w' is a vowel garnered the most attention. I received several e-mails from teachers who actually used it in their class. Op-ed pieces and letters to the editor soon followed. KA-CHING! I should have retired with that one.

Another defining moment came early on when I wrote a column dissing the Peanuts comic strip. While the column was still on the site Peanuts creator Charles Schulz died. Bad timing at it's finest. After receiving two angry e-mails I asked my editor to consider removing the offending piece. But he refused, saying, "Don't worry! Your reputation will die with you." I learned then that I should never write something I didn't intend to back up.

Seeing my column online and occasionally in print in The Roanoke Times Saturday Extra section proved to be a thrill that is largely unmatchable.

Also, it has been a real rush to Google my name and consistently see my column at the top of the list, beating out those other posers who dared use my moniker.

Roll credits:

To Jim, my long-suffering editor: I thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime. I very much appreciate your patience and guidance.

To my fellow cyber-columnists: y'all are the best support group known to man! To have my name associated with yours is indeed an honor and a pleasure! Let's start making reunion plans! I'll bring napkins!

To my faithful readers: I shall indeed miss serving you. More than you realize. Thank you for making me your celebrity-du-jour !

Fondest regards,

Todd Jennings