I wrote my first column for the Asheville Citizen-Times editorial page just about five years ago in December 1999. And today’s will be my last.

There comes a time in the life of every writer when it’s obvious that it’s time to move on. And while I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to appear on these pages every other Saturday for nearly five years, this old dog wants to try some new tricks.

The columns that I have written for the Citizen-Times have been labors of love. And I enjoyed the bond that we have shared along the way. We have endured two rancorous presidential elections, the horrendous events of 9/11, two gruesome wars and the abysmal first term of George W. Bush.

We have taken a stand, and we have made a difference, turning back an ill conceived attempt to construct a high-rise in our commons in downtown Asheville and preventing the paving of inner city forest for a parking lot. And sometimes our efforts, noble as they might have been, fell short, rallying locally and in Washington, D.C. to stop the illegal and immoral aggression in Iraq before it began and coming together at the polls in an attempt to end to the worst presidency in the history of this nation.

The challenges will continue, of course. And I trust that our paths will continue to cross as we work to build a world of justice, compassion and sustainability.

I want you to know that I am deeply grateful for the generous support and thoughtful feedback that you have provided me. One of my favorite things has been to hear from you—by telephone, by mail, by email, on the street, even in the men’s locker room at the YMCA—after I’ve written a column that you’ve found particularly evocative or inspiring. Your encouragement has sustained me during times when it might have been easy to walk away from this endeavor.

I know that there are some out there who will not be sad to see me go. But despite my absence from this editorial page, I will persist in having my say. I will share my thoughts and feelings with you in several different ways.

First of all, I intend to write commentaries, articles and essays in which I’ll share my opinions on the events of the day along with more personal reflections and whatever else enters my active mind. These offerings will be posted on my website at www.brucemulkey.com. While there, you’ll also have an opportunity to share your comments about my work and peruse the comments of other readers.

Secondly, I will continue to send my observations out in my free email newsletter. To receive the newsletter, just visit my website and complete the simple subscription form.

Thirdly, I invite you to revisit some of my original editorial columns written for the Asheville Citizen-Times in my two e-books, “Peaceful Patriots: Taking a Stand for Peace in a Time of Endless War” and “Walking Our Talk: Living Our Deepest Values, Creating the World We Wish to See” You’ll find almost every column I have written over the past five years in these e-books, both available at www.brucemulkey.com. And last but not least, I have several additional books in their formative stages that I plan to publish during the coming year. I’ll have updates on these projects at my website and in my newsletters.

If you have enjoyed my columns, I’d really like to hear from you. And I invite you to let editorial page editor Joy Franklin (JFranklin@CITIZEN-TIMES.com) know too. Joy and her staff have been a pleasure to work with, and I am thankful for the opportunity they provided me to serve as a local columnist and for their role in my growth as a writer.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to express my deep gratitude to my editor-in-chief (and my wife), Shonnie Lavender. Her sharp eyes, keen intellect and innate wisdom have helped move my columns from rough drafts to their final form time and time again.

So, my friends, this is not goodbye. It’s just so long for now. I look forward to our next chapter together whatever that might be. Namaste.