Farewell, Fairbanks!

Hello, everybody.

Well...here we are. After spending most of my life here for a total of 25 years, this is my last day in Fairbanks, Alaska. Late night tonight, I'm leaving here for the final time for my new digs in Georgia. More on that in a bit.

But I am blessed and proud to have grown up here since 1983. I started my education at Joy Elementary, started my love for technology at Barnette Magnet School in 1985 (when I returned for the second time), and in 1995, started my career at the Geist Road McDonald's at the age of 16. And over those years, I have made personal and professional friendships with anybody and everybody, especially with some of the area's best-known celebrities like Glen "Glenner" Anderson, Jerry Evans, Mike Shultz, Darryl Lewis Sr., and Curtis Thomas.

And speaking of celebrities...I've had a front row seat -- or close to it -- to some top names right here. Who could ever forget B.B. King and 98 Degrees in 2001, John Leguizamo in 2006, and Jerry Seinfeld last year? I sure missed out on Elton John in 2008, and my leaving here will cost me Martin Short and Dave Chapelle in October.

As one of those "tough Alaskans", I have survived unexpected weather and brutal winters here, especially the deep freeze in 1989 and the 2010 ice storm that blanketed Fairbanks and Anchorage which closed down roads, businesses, and schools. In late April, Mother Nature brought us unneeded snow when it was supposed to melt away.
But now, with fall already here, the time has come to turn a new leaf. And for me, it's also time for a new change in scenery. This weekend, I'll be movin' on up like "The Jeffersons" to a far more world-class city than Fairbanks: Atlanta, Georgia!

It's no secret that I've always wanted to settle down there ever since they won the bid to host the 1996 Olympics. Okay, so the story was we were torn between that and Seattle; but when we found out that the living costs in Seattle are worth more than our Permanent Fund Dividend ($900 is this year's payout), we decided in the end, Atlanta.

I have been to some sporting events here in Fairbanks like the Top of the World Classic and a few Fairbanks Grizzlies games, but they pale in comparison to the real sports Atlanta has in store (Falcons, Braves, Hawks), especially college. We have the Alaska Nanooks with hockey and basketball as their top sports; they have the Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets of the SEC and ACC respectively, and their main sport? Football!!!

Atlanta has a more burgeoning economy, with Coca-Cola, The Weather Channel, and the Turner networks all headquartered there. And when it comes to media, they run circles around Fairbanks in that, especially film and television production (Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries, Family Feud, anything Tyler Perry). For the latter, 20 years ago, Orlando, Florida used to be Hollywood South with studio lots at Disney World and Universal; but tax breaks have led to producers migrating up I-75 to Atlanta.

Being in the foodservice/restaurant/hospitality industry since 1995, I sure know that Atlanta will be a definite "step up" from Fairbanks in my career...considering they're also home to the CDC. But I'm getting ahead of myself here, as I'm between jobs at the moment.

Alaska has been my home for most of my life, and when opportunity knocks elsewhere, you have to follow your instincts. For the last year, losses of longtime businesses and rising energy costs had us questioning our future: stay in Fairbanks and tough it out or raise the white flag and hightail to the Lower 48 once again? The decision has already been made, and it's goodbye to Fairbanks and hello to Atlanta. I want to thank those for making me feel right at home here for all those 25 years, especially the aforementioned people as well as my fellow colleagues past and present. Thank you for all those memories I've made in the Golden Heart City, good and bad; and most of all...thank you, Fairbanks, for making me grow up in the place I love.

And so, for the final time from Fairbanks before I come to you from Hotlanta...so long and stay strong.