Farewell friends

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Josh, my fiance, and I added two to the population when we arrived. Now, we're taking a Northfield native back out with us, our cat "Sarah Palin." Minus three!

Northfield, we’ve reached the hand off. The Representative Journalism Project has come to another turning point after eight months. Now, instead of reading the work of a transplanted, temporary journalist (me) you could soon have the opportunity to support the area’s indigenous writers. Those writers, sponsored by the public, would produce news material that could appear across a range of local media, including LocallyGrownNorthfield.org. (More about that coming soon).

As the Representative Journalism Project collaborators have been hashing out the details of that new evolution, I came to the conclusion this month that perhaps one of the best things I could do to ensure the success of our latest ideas would be to step out of the way, instead of remaining until my work contract expired in July.

Now, the funds that would have paid my wage may be reinvested in jump-starting the project’s new efforts. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to immersing myself in a work environment that tethers me to computers less and fosters my desire to write about travel and adventure more.

The most difficult part of this transition is leaving our Northfield friends and neighbors. My fiance and I have hardly experienced a community that could equal Northfield in its warmth and kindness, as well as in its rambunctious spirit. Within hours of our arrival into this city, the people that were to become our good friends provided us with every essential. One person even scoured her neighborhood curbs to find us the perfect love seat to cram into our snug studio…

If I began to recount every kindness of every Northfield friend, this post would be exceptionally lengthy. I would love to thank everyone in person, however, and I invite everyone to come to the Contented Cow Pub tomorrow (Friday) beginning at 5:30 to enjoy a farewell gathering. I’ll be singing some songs with the New Moon Trio, dedicating each one to the people that we wish we didn’t have to leave behind.

10 Comments

  1. kiffi summa said:

    To Bonnie-skirt and Joshie-pants, and she-who- is-definitely-irritated-about-her-name: The ‘Bon-est’ of BonVoyages !
    Definitely-not-“mad”; definitely- just-sad !

    March 26, 2009
  2. April Ripka said:

    so sad! you were the best tenants a store could have above them! bonnie, thank you so much for buying my art and other local art and even doing art! thank you for all your great stories! of course, i will miss josh coming in to play with the toys. 😉 sarah and edi will miss you, too! good luck with all your future adventures! love ya!

    March 26, 2009
  3. Bright Spencer said:

    Farewell, to Bonnie and Josh!
    We really enjoyed our nosh.
    Hope to read your next musings and, gosh, we’ve really enjoyed your panache!

    March 27, 2009
  4. …can I keep your repJ skateboard which is hanging in my gallery window? All the Best, Dean

    March 27, 2009
  5. […] Last night’s farewell party at the Contented Cow for RepJ reporter Bonnie Obremski and her fiancé, Josh Rowan, was a rockin’ good time, with lots of well-wishers, music by the New Moon Trio (plus Bonnie), and a candy piñata. (See Bonnie’s post for more on her farewell.) […]

    March 28, 2009
  6. Griff Wigley said:

    Bonnie, it’s been more than a delight to get to know you and Josh. Last’s night’s farewell party at the Cow was a testimonial to how you’ve both touched the people of Northfield in your short time here.

    You leave a legacy with your RepJ stories, many of which we’ll continue to link to and benefit from in the years to come. You also leave a legacy of journalistic transparency and collaboration with Northfield’s citizenry that will inspire all of us to keep alive as we embark on the next phase of ‘sustainable journalism’ for Northfield.

    And here’s hoping you’ll retain some ability to talk Minnesotan no matter where you live. So, will you come back and visit Northfield occasionally, then?

    March 28, 2009
  7. So glad Bonnie and Raoul are leaving. I simply despise kind, intelligent, personable, creative people.

    Now, I must go cry… because of my extreme happiness… of course.

    March 28, 2009
  8. Josh and I are temporarily in upstate New York on our roundabout journey south. We miss everyone dearly and talk every day about the good folks of Northfield. Thanks for everyone’s kind words, they meant a lot to us. Hope all is well over there!

    April 6, 2009
  9. Griff Wigley said:

    Thanks for the update, Bonnie… keep us posted!

    April 8, 2009

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