I’ve spent days working on this post. Days. And I’ve come to the conclusion that this post will never be everything I really, truly want it to be. How can one do justice to almost six years of such profound consequence? I can’t. This is all I’ve got. I sincerely hope it’s enough.
For five and a half years, it has been my honor to be the Editor of SpouseBUZZ. Every single day, I woke excited to find out what the day would hold for military spouses. I couldn’t wait to get to my computer to read the contributor’s posts, the reader’s comments, stories from outside sources about military life and email from our readers.
When I wasn’t waking to my home office, I was on the road for SpouseBUZZ LIVE. As a result of these events, I’ve been to 18 military installations all over the country and had the privilege of meeting thousands and thousands of military spouses. Listening to your stories and observing you at each venue, I’ve always walked away in awe of your strength, pride, passion, compassion and resiliency. How is it, I’ve often wondered, that I am so blessed to be a part of such an inspirational, dynamic community?
A few months ago, after much thought and careful deliberation, I decided to leave my position as Editor. Today is my last day. Please join me in welcoming my replacement, Jacey Eckhart. Jacey is a fantastic addition to SpouseBUZZ and I am confident you will be as gracious to her as you’ve always been to me.
My decision to leave was a very difficult one. Although I absolutely love my role at SpouseBUZZ, I decided to take a risk and move in another direction. It’s both scary and exciting, but I’m definitely looking forward to new challenges and adventures.
In this business, you need two things to succeed; fantastic contributors and engaged readers. SpouseBUZZ has always had an ample supply of both. Although our contributors originate content, I think all of them would agree that it’s the readers, with your varied perspectives and wise commentary, who truly make this a vibrant community. Inevitably, one of you will come along with a fresh angle to a story, a creative solution to a problem, an attagirl or chin-up when sorely needed, and a different way to think about an issue. That’s why virtual conversations are so powerful.
Putting your true self out there is not easy for most of us. Learning that you can’t please everyone is even harder. But when you write from the heart, you must learn to be at peace with the fact that someone is not going to like what you have to say, and they’re not always going to be nice about it, either. But with rare exceptions, SpouseBUZZ has always been a place where alternative perspectives were welcomed and disagreements were stated respectfully. Thank you for being the very best readers and unofficial advisors on the web!
I recently read a quote which really resonated with me and made me think of our contributors.
I tell people all the time that writing is risky because you have to say what you feel, be truthful.
In this setting, the risk has always been worth the reward. To everyone who has ever written for SpouseBUZZ, without your willingness to voluntarily share your stories and experiences as milspouses, the SpouseBUZZ brand would never have flourished. Your perspectives make SpouseBUZZ interesting and relevant. You’ve often tackled difficult and profoundly personal topics in order to help others and assure them they’re not alone. You have taken “pay it forward” to a whole new level. Each of you have left an enormous footprint on the milspouse community, and on my heart.
Without question, working with the military community has been the most rewarding, fulfilling experience of my life. At the time I founded SpouseBUZZ, I didn’t have sky-high expectations. I simply wanted a little destination on the web for us to gather and share experiences. Our “war stories,” if you will. But a funny thing happened along the way. We grew. Thanks to our contributors and readers, I got so much more than I gave. And for that priceless gift, I’ll be eternally grateful to all of you.
*****
I can’t possibly leave without thanking some specific individuals who have been a tremendous help to me over the past few years.
To Chris Michel, the founder of Military.com and the man who hired me: Thank you for seeing the potential of a forum like this and for believing I could turn the vision into a reality.
To Vince Patton, my boss of many years: Your work ethic, leadership and integrity are inspirational and serve as a model for business, and in life. You taught me more than you’ll ever know simply by watching you live your life.
To Ward Carroll, my Editor and the Editor of Military.com: Thank you for always believing in the relevance and impact of spouse content, for your encouragement and advocacy for spouses.
To Jeanie St. Martin, my event planning partner for the past several years: You have been a reliable, solid work mate. No matter what the future holds for me, I will never find a better partner to work with. Thank you for your dedication, and your friendship.
To Charlie, the technical brains behind this entire operation: Thank you for indulging me every other week when I have a “great idea” and for somehow managing to turn my 4,822 ideas into reality on the blog. We owe so much of our success to your behind-the-scenes work.
To Jacey Eckhart, my successor: I hope you find this job to be as fun and meaningful as I have. Some days it’s hard. Some days it’s downright impossible. But on the majority of days, it’s the very best job in the world.
And last, but certainly not least, thank you to my husband. The yin to my yang. Always the voice of reason, my biggest fan and loudest cheerleader.
About Andi
Comments
Congratulations Andi on a great run!! You've set the standard for all to follow! Thank you for your superlative service and outstanding work!
You are truly loved and will be sorely missed! "Thank you!" just doesn't seem to encompass the vast difference you have made in the world of military spouses and in my life in particular! What a tremendous and humbling example you have set for all of us!
Fair winds and following seas, Andi. You leave a great legacy. And I am so honored that you trusted me enough to leave it in my hands. All the best
Thank you, Andi. You're Class. You will be missed.
We will miss you! Best of luck, and thanks for all you've done in our military community!
Thank you for making SpouseBuzz what it is. You will be missed!
Congratulations Andi, and good luck on your future endeavors! Thank you for all you've done with SpouseBUZZ… we'll miss you!
We will miss you dearly Andi — it has been a delight to work with you and for you. Godspeed!
Growth doesn't come without risk. Congratulations and best wishes on your new path.
To the future! Slainte!
Oh WOW!!! Andi you will be missed!! However I know where ever you go & what ever you do it will be awesome!! Good Luck!!! :)
Best wishes to you Andi, in all that you do! It has been an honor to work with you and you will be greatly missed! Thank you for making SpouseBUZZ the great site that it is and for giving so many of us a place to belong.
The best of luck on your new path and many thanks for all you did, you are, and always will be, one awesome and classy lady and I am glad I got to meet you in person!
And a heartfelt hello to Ms.Eckhart, I've read you before and always liked the way you chose to look at life and the craziness that can come with this MilSpouse life!
Will miss you Andi! Been to a couple of Spouse Buzz events & have enjoyed all the posts on here! Good luck with your future endeavors!!
Welcome Jacey!
Andi- thank you for all your dedication to SpouseBUZZ and the LIVE events. It has been such a pleasure to work with you for the last three and half years. You are such a generous and giving person and I feel lucky to have meet you. Thank you for always treating me as an "honorary military spouse" and laughing with me, (and not at me), at some of my ignorance when it comes to military life. I have not only learned a lot from you in regards to the military but also about life in general. It's been an honor to be a part of what has been your "baby" for the past six years. I wish you the best and know you will continue to do great things and positively contribute to the life of military spouses everywhere!
Oh, Andi, you will be missed. Thank you for your hard work over the years. Your words have always been delivered with class, without condescension. I have met most of my online spousal support group through this blog and I truly appreciate everything you've done. Thank you again and I wish the best in your new endeavor!
I don't read or comment here as often as I used to, but I will say that this site was a Godsend when my husband was deployed, and I want to thank you, Andi, for your time, commitment, and insightful and humorous posts that got me — and I'm sure many others — through my husband's deployment. I was even fortunate enough to attend a SpouseBUZZ event when it came to Tacoma, and met some of the wonderful authors at this site.
Thank you so much, and may God bless your future endeavors as you have blessed so many others! :)
^^Devon, a.k.a. Deltasierra :)
I am so going to miss you, Andi!
SpouseBUZZ has been an awesome experience for so many because of you, Andi. Thank you for sharing with us and giving us the opportunity to be part of something so wonderful!
I'm sad to see you leaving, but so excited about the opportunities yet to come for you.
Thank you so much for your kind emails during the time of my surgery, when posting just wasn't happening. Your understanding meant more than you'll probably ever know.
All the best, and thank you for providing me with the opportunity to write here at SpouseBUZZ.
Thanks for making me a part of the BUZZ…it is an amazing avenue for spouses and I am thankful everyday for you, and the rest of the team, for creating a wonderful forum to share and vent. You will be missed!
Good Luck in your new path. I'm glad you found a good successor in Jacey. I feel so much more connected to what's going on with getting my daily dose of Spouse Buzz, especially when I lived no where near any base. Thank you Andi.
A Friend's Friend. Thanks for your encouragement and help these past 7 years as I wrote true feelings of a broken heart. Good Luck. Only a phone call or email away if ever I can help.
robert stokely
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah iIaq
USA E 108 CAV
A whirlwind of emotion. SpouseBUZZ. To the Authors: each one of you, my SB compadres, focused me and let me find my pace and my place. From the very beginning, I knew that I'd be in debted to each of you, for life. And I am. It really is an amazing thing to realize that I spent 26 years working and leading and trying to do well by the measure of the active duty officer, and yet, 11 women kindly took me aside, sat me down, and taught me lessons on life that have profoundly changed the way I see the world.
Andi, thank you so very much for allowing me to be a member of your band of mil-spouse gypsies. You will never know the depth of my appreciation for you taking a chance on me.
VTY,
Toad
Best of luck on your new adventure Andi! And welcome Jacey!