By Edmond Ortiz
Staff Writer

A time existed long, long ago when I once supposed that “Windcrest” and “Schertz” were mere names of neighboring enclaves. Not even incorporated suburbs, just an array of residences.

But I was a naïve youngster then. What did I know? Surrealistic visions of becoming a stockbroker (it was the 1980s, after all) briefly instilled me with a mindset of reckless abandon.

Then maturity reared its ugly head. Writing was to become my true calling. Perhaps a knack for prose and poetry is yet to be fully developed. In the meantime, newspaper journalism is for me in the here and now.

Some of you may know that I am leaving the Northeast Herald as a full-time staff writer. I am assuming the editor’s role for another weekly in our product line, the North Central News, starting today.

Upon the start of my tenure at Prime Time Newspapers, Hillary Clinton’s other half was president. Tim Duncan was launching a storied NBA career. Web-based business was going to be a revolution where the sky was the limit. Cell phones were large enough to cold-cock someone. The world actually existed without celebrity train wrecks named Britney or Paris.

And oh yeah, there was no “endless war” and gas prices were nothing to lose sleep over. Or worse.

In more than eight years, I learned plenty. I learned lots about these wholesome, thriving, determined, self-governed communities. I’ve seen dozens of subdivisions, retail centers, new roads, schools and large public facilities spring forth from farmland and vacant tracts seemingly overnight.

I further honed my reporting and writing skills, and bogged myself in the minutiae of formatting documents. It’s such a devoted craft where journalists are often maligned — in some quarters of society — with the likes of lawyers, career politicians and sports superstars who forget their roots in the pursuit of decadence.

I learned lots about walking that fine line of balance and fairness. Much fun was to be had, especially while covering more tense situations. I’ve had my share of reporting adventures in suburban politics. I’ve made friends and met many terrific individuals across the Metrocom.

I’ve snapped photos and even taken part in entertaining events. A certain bachelor auction fundraiser and using personal vehicles in local parades suddenly come to mind. I’ve poked fun at Bush and company while occasionally shedding light on matters that mainstream media tend to overlook. It has been a pleasure.

Not to worry, I won’t be a stranger in the Metrocom. I’ll be at meetings and events from time to time. But now, it’s time for a new personal/ professional challenge. That clarion call hails from the north-central side of my hometown. Give my successor, David DeKunder, a warm welcome.

I leave with a parting, symbolic comment, courtesy of author Bob Considine: “Call it vanity, call it arrogant presumption, call it what you wish, but I would grope for the nearest open grave if I had no newspaper to work for, no need to search for and sometimes find the winged word that just fits, no keen wonder over what each unfolding day may bring.”