Bye Bye, Brycie

This one's tough.

I say that because this is my last humor column for The Post and Courier.

That's right, no more West Virginia jokes, shots at Pontiac Aztek owners or "and by (blank), of course, I mean (blank)" gags.

Now I realize this might come as a shock to many of you, prompting such questions as, "Are you serious?" and, "Wait, your column was supposed to be funny?"

Sadly, the answer to both is yes.

I'd be lying if I didn't say this was bittersweet for me. While I'm sad to leave the newspaper, I'm thrilled for the opportunity to take on a new and exciting challenge. Sure I won't be getting paid to make jokes about poop, grown men who wear football jerseys to the mall or my own cluelessness as a parent, but I promise you, if I ever run into you on the street, I will be more than happy to do that for free.

It's been an incredible run here at The Post and Courier, one filled with lots of personal and professional growth. I began "It beats working" back in October 2001, my first assignment being to write about my experience caddying for former major league baseball player Gorman Thomas in a celebrity golf tournament. Back then, Thomas had absolutely no clue who I was. But when I called him up a few days ago to get his perspective on my nine-year newspaper column writing career and how much things had changed over all those years, he graciously said, "I think you have the wrong number."

OK, so very little has changed since then.

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But during those 458 columns, I got to do all sorts of amazing things: pilot the Goodyear Blimp, be a ball boy for Anna Kournikova, fly with the Blue Angels, carry the Olympic torch and the list goes on. But better than any of those collective experiences were my interactions with you.

I can honestly say there has been no bigger thrill throughout my writing career than when I run into a complete stranger and they tell me they love what I do. It's a complete rush and reminds me how lucky I've been to do this for a living for nearly a decade.

Which is why it's so hard to say goodbye. Sure I'm not going to miss dealing with 25 editors every week trying to make sure I haven't written anything that will get the company sued (again), but I can honestly say writing for the newspaper has been one of the best experiences of my entire life.

And it's all thanks to you guys. And by you, of course, I mean me.

Sorry. I just needed to do that one last time.

Bryce Donovan hates to see himself go, but loves watching himself leave. Reach him at 937-5938 or bdonovan@postandcourier.com. To stay in touch with Bryce, you can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/brycedonovan.