I’m home everybody!!! Did you miss me? It feels amazing to be back in the comfort of my office, after such an extended absence! While this assignment turned out to be such an amazing experience for me, as a journalist… I was still quite thrilled to step into the shower and feel the steam rise in my nostrils, as the hot water cleansed away the dirt and grit I’d been covered in from my travels. 

As soon as I arrived at the paper this morning, everyone was already waiting in the newsroom! We here at WTL News make a habit of meeting together as a group, whenever one of us returns from an assignment. This is a great time to unload much of what one learned, while out in the field, as well as catching up with the daily comings and goings of the newspaper, itself. 

When I walked into the room, heading for my usual seat in the far corner, I was intercepted by J.C. who guided me over a seat that was located right in the middle of the group. Awkwardly, I took my newly assigned seat at the boardroom table, situated between our news teams Senior Staff! Everyone in the newsroom was sitting quietly, without belaying any expressions that might give me a clue, as to the odd behavior occurring in the staff meeting. Quite honestly, I was unsure if I were being celebrated or about to be reprimanded for something. Since no clues would be forthcoming from my coworkers, I simply sat quietly to await our CEOs appearance. He appeared shortly after I took my seat, so there wasn’t really a great amount of waiting.

If you remember my last message I sent back to you from the field, shortly after I’d arrived at my assignment, I’d just been informed that I was there to learn some lessons, rather than interview someone else. Well, what I wasn’t aware of, was the fact that I’d been sent there to be evaluated by WTL News… go figure!

As I sat quietly in my seat, listening to our CEO open the morning meeting, he walked down the table to where I sat and came to a halt behind my chair! The lights lowered, followed by the projector screen lowering, and then began a slide show of the very place I’d just been. There were pictures of all of us, from when we were standing at the city gates, to walking among the hills and valleys surrounding Jobs home, and finally, of us all sitting around the fire in the evenings, laughing and telling stories. 

Afterwards, when the lights in the newsroom began coming back on, my CEO still stood behind my chair… but this time, the senior staff that had been seated on either side of me, began standing up. My boss turned my chair around, gesturing for me to stand up, as well. When I’d gotten up out of my chair, fully confused, I was handed a set of keys… one for the Senior Staff floor of WTL News, and another key that belonged to an office on the above mentioned level. 

I think I just got promoted?!

After all the hoopla ended, the meeting concluded and most of the attendees wandered back to their offices. I was still very confused as to what had just happened, nervously standing along side J.C. and several other senior staff members that had remained, as well as our CEO. It was then explained to me that I’d been sent forth on a Pilot test run of a new line of articles to be written for WTL News… and I had just become the newsrooms first Time Traveling Journalist! 

According to my boss, I fit perfectly into this new role, as shown by the photos somebody had taken of me, out in the field. For several moments I tried sorting through memories of my recent trip, pondering how somebody was able to take photos of my work, as I saw no cameras or folks that looked suspiciously out of place. Finally, I opted to simply accept that someone had INDEED been watching and recording my comings and goings. 

I trust my CEO, as well as J.C., so it wasn’t difficult for me to just accept how things were playing out and step into this new role, freely. My boss knows me better than I know myself, so who am I to fear or doubt His decisions, as they have always benefitted me in some way.

WTL News has been raised from the ground up, by my CEO, with me actively working towards bettering His establishment. If the one who carries this company on His shoulders, seeks to use my skills and abilities… little ole me… then I am all in! Besides, who could ask for a better dream job, than to wander the paths of history, meeting and interviewing some those who have come before us? 

While I’ve no idea, as of yet, where or when I head to next, I shall devote myself to being ready to pack up and go at a moments notice. With an adventurous job like this one, who needs a regular shower, anyway?