Words fail me. Which is funny when you consider that I write for a living.

For months I’ve brooded over what to say in my last blog post, but nothing seems right. Or enough. How do you do justice when saying good-bye to a long and happy career? More to the point: how do you say good-bye to all of the incredible people you’ve encountered along the way?

With excitement and more than a touch of glee, I am writing to tell you that I’m retiring at the end of this month. This has been in the works since January, and while I am poised to enjoy all that retirement brings, it’s impossible for me to convey what my career has meant to me in a few hundred measly words.

Do I list the people who most especially influenced my work and my career – people I met and got to know, as well as those whom I’ve only known virtually? There are so many of you. So many.

There’s Frank, of course, and Joe, John, Cary, Christine, Daniel, Jamie, Mark and Marc. There’s Linda, Diane, Greg, Dan, Jill, Cindy, and Kevin. I think of Jim out in sunny California and Texas Jim as well as Kathleen. Also Brian and Frances, KOB and Lisa. There’s Richard and Holly, Kitty nearby, and Mariah, Beth and Pat. I thank Ali and Paul, Don and Tim and Peter. Sal, Kristi and Bree. Jeff in the Midwest and Cheryl in my home state of NJ. I’ll remember Lilly, Jane and Monica, Ken and Jack, and Dean out of Chicago. I think of Duncan and Kurt, more Dianes and more Marks. I thank everyone who ever worked for me or with me, like Ken and Barbara, PM and Marcia.

I have wonderful clients whom I’ve already thanked, for giving me writing assignments that challenged me and improved my skill.

And again, there’s Frank. Because Frank Romano has done more for me than anyone else, as a mentor and as an enthusiast of my work, particularly when I ran print buyer conferences. It’s a debt I can never repay.

Being a part of the print industry has been a long and wonderful ride. It’s been my pleasure trying to help bridge the divide between manufacturers and their customers. It’s the sort of work that can go on and on and on…and yet, it’s time for whatever adventures and opportunities lay before me in this life.

So keep calm and print on. I’ll see many of you on Facebook if not in the flesh. Thanks for the millions of memories and support. All of you have colored my world in full and brilliant CMYK. What a gift!