Pass it to Bulis changed my life.
When I founded this blog with Daniel Wagner back in the spring of 2010, it was little more than a lark. Just a space for Daniel and I to inject a little fun into cheering for our favourite hockey team amid a fanbase that tends to take this stuff way too seriously. And boy, did we have fun. Tanner Glass fighting bears. The Tanner Glass Scrabble challenge. A third thing that probably also involved Tanner Glass for some ridiculous reason.
But then things got serious. By the following spring, we were making the move from Blogspot to a major newspaper, and by the summer, I quit my job in Langley to blog about hockey full-time. Never in a million years did I think that was even a possibility. Nor did I ever think I would have some of the experiences I had, meet some of the people I met, face some of the challenges I did, or see my life turned completely upside-down because, one spring, my best friend and I decided to sign up for Blogspot.
Six and a half years later, I'm doing something else I never thought I'd do: stepping down from Pass it to Bulis to focus on my work with Postmedia at The Vancouver Sun and The Province.
I'm sad to go, but I'll be honest: I'm also proud. I start projects all the time. Until today, none of them have reached the point where they're bigger than me, and can and should continue on without me. I'm pretty sure that means I created something of lasting value? It's not exactly Lin-Manuel leaving Hamilton, but this is still bittersweet for me.
I won't be taking any parting shots. I do have a lot to say about this industry and my experiences within it, some of which were incredible, transformative, wonderful, and some of which were truly, truly horrible, but those are stories for another time. This doesn't need to be an autobiography. (One day I'm totally writing one, though, if for no other reason than to lay the groundwork for my biopic. And to embarrass my enemies.) For now, I just want to thank all of the people that have ever landed on this blog, read it, commented on it, shared it with their friends, and encouraged us to keep doing it over the years. Your support has meant the world to me. In my darker moments, it probably saved my life.
PITB will be just fine. Heck, it'll probably improve -- I ain't special. Daniel Wagner remains my favourite hockey writer. I'm excited to keep reading his takes, hot, fresh or otherwise, and I'm excited for the debut of the new guy. (Cut him some slack in the beginning. It takes a while to find your voice at a new blog, and most of the initial feedback is always so negative, it can be difficult to build confidence and feel comfortable. Be nice to him. I hear he's really talented.)
That's all for me. Goodbye, Bulies. Good night, and keep watching the skis.
Oh. Since it's my post, I get to choose the music, so as the credits roll on this chapter in my life, please welcome Fart.
