Asking if I could take a photo turned into an interesting story about how this man found his dream bike.

“Thank God for the talkers.” Rick Bragg

I love to hear stories.

The joy started when I was a child, sometimes reading two books at a time as if one story just wasn’t enough. I also enjoyed listening to my dad and others tell stories about their lives, not only their joys but the sorrows they overcame.

That grew into a love of southern storytellers like humorist Lewis Grizzard and journalist Rick Bragg. A desire to hear all the details to the point I feel like I can reach out and touch the people of whom they write. Writing profiles of people – and sometimes even of myself – is still the biggest joy I have as a reporter.

That to me is the biggest treat of being a journalist. We are today’s storytellers, the ones you trust to tell us about your lives, your passions and concerns, entrusting us to tell your stories to the community.