To all my dear PropTax friends (and others),
I have had many significant, life-altering things happen to
me during my life. But I was either too young or too dumb to recognize them as
being significant at the time. I guess I must be getting old, and perhaps my
brain has finally developed beyond the adolescent stage, because this is the
first time in my life that I remember actually stopping to take the time to
think about a decision and how it will impact my life going forward. And I
don’t like it one bit.
This stopping and thinking about stuff is really hard.
Because now I have to think about how I am going to miss everyone here so much.
And I have to remember all the great things that this division does, and all of
the acts of generosity and kindness that I have witnessed here every day over
the last 7 years. I have to think about if this is the right choice; to
say goodbye to something that has given me so much and to the people that have
become like family. Will I ever find a place like this again? Will I ever find
someone to hire me again? What the heck am I going to do with my life!
So I am done thinking about it. I will leave the thinking to
the philosophers and those really deep, introspective poet-types. Instead, I am
just going to do what I have always done: savor the past, enjoy the present,
and let the future bring what it will. I’m not worried about it. It’s like my good
buddy Danny Kaye said, “Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all
the paint on it you can.” And that’s what I’m going to do, start
splashing paint like I’m Jackson Pollock. Happiness to me is an ever-changing
horizon, the thrill of going around that corner and not knowing what is on the
other side, and those butterflies in your stomach the moment you drop off into
the unknown. And so I’m going to venture down the road and let all those
unknown bumps and curves shape who I am. To what end, only time will tell.
So that’s it. This is goodbye for now. I am so thankful for
what everyone has done for me, and what they will continue to do for this great
state. I was lucky to be part of it. I wish everyone the best in everything
that they do. If you find yourself in Duluth, look us up and come hang out.
We’ll go jump in the big lake. It’s totally rejuvenating, trust me. Bon voyage!
“What is that feeling when you're driving away from
people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? -
it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to
the next crazy venture beneath the skies.” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road
 |
| This is the super cool photo the Department took of me to accompany any articles I submitted to assessment magazines. |
 |
| Angela and I in front of the state seal, the state flag and the American flag on one of the biggest days of the year for my division (State Board of Equalization). |
 |
| I will miss the close proximity to the Capitol. I've enjoyed many lunches on the Capitol Mall and was able to head over to the lawn the day the Marriage Equality Amendment passed. Minnesota is awesome, and I am proud to have been part of the public policy process in some small way. |
