Sometimes life can be filled with ups and downs, it truly can.

A dozen or so years ago, had someone told me that I would have been the sportswriter hired to replace the iconic, late Burt Angeli as the sports scribe here at The Daily News, I’d have doubted that very seriously. But here I am, over two calendar years into my stint as such. But, unfortunately, life took another turn which will turn me in the direction of a different job. I am officially finished here at The Daily News, my last official day was Saturday.

It’s been a wonderful ride, it really has, for the most part. I have gotten to know or gotten to know better some incredible human beings, in the area, in the U.P. and in Northeast Wisconsin. I am going to miss the good people that have treated me so well. I am going to miss covering the games and writing about what I saw young ladies and gentlemen accomplish in athletics.

But I was offered a job opportunity I couldn’t pass up, with the main variable in the new position being more time with my wife, my daughter and our dog — more time as a family. …

Some highlights of my time at The Daily News include, but are not limited to covering three state championship games within the calendar year of 2021. Two North Central Jets 8-player state championships, as well as Iron Mountain’s run to the Division 3 boys basketball title game against Flint Beecher back in April.

To Foster Wonders, Bryce Pietrantonio, coach Harvey “Bucky” Johnson and the rest of the team, as well as the two years of Jets grid squads I say thank you! Experiences that I will always treasure and never forget.

Also, thank you to the Houghton Mining Gazette for allowing me to cover the Calumet girls basketball team’s semifinal game at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, the day prior to the Iron Mountain boys semifinal game, seven-plus months ago. Most U.P. sportswriters don’t get an opportunity to cover games at “The Bres” in their careers, I got to cover three in a four-day span. …

I am also grateful for the two opportunities to have page 1A stories in The Daily News. Writing about and covering the dedication for fellow U.S. Navy sailor Clark Schwedler of Crystal Falls, as the Forest Park School District honored the deceased Navy SEAL with dedicating the new exercise facility in the FP school after him.

To be asked to be a small part of that whole thing was a honor. To do it for a fellow former service member who is the same age as me, and was killed in action while serving in the same branch of the armed forces as me, that made the honor that much more of a special one.

Thank you Jackie Guiliani and Kurt Anderson for allowing me to take part in it. …

For the other front page story, I had a great deal of assistance. It was barely a month into my tenure here at the paper and Managing Editor Betsy Bloom helped me out considerably with the piece.

The subject was the passing of former NFL and Rose Bowl winning head football coach, Norway native John Ralston. “Jack” was also a Norway High School classmate of my late grandparents, Ernie and Eva Lardenoit, class of 1944.

I can remember many times when my Grandpa would tell me stories about Ralston, from either his time as the HC of the Denver Broncos, or about the two years he and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jim Plunkett led Stanford to back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances.

Being able to have a great phone conversation with Iron Mountain native Steve Mariucci about his personal relationship with “Coach Jack,” as Mooch called him, that was a pleasure as well. So to say the least, it was quite an experience for me all around to write about Coach Ralston. He was a remarkable man who made friends everywhere he went. In my opinion, he’s as accomplished as anyone ever from Dickinson County and the U.P. in the sports world.

Writing about his passing was also an honor, and something I can be proud of being able to be a part of. …

And I can’t forget that I am very much going to miss covering the Pine Mountain ski jumps. The access that I had for the 2019 event was second to none, and I was really looking forward to covering the event this coming February.

To the Kiwanis Ski Club, thank you for your hospitality. …

For anyone who ever read my columns, game recaps, feature stories or anything else, thank you and I hope you enjoyed it. To the individuals who over my 2-plus years in this job, who went out of their way to either personally or via phone call or email, compliment me in any way, thank you as well. It would always make me feel good to know that people were enjoying my work.

Lastly, to those individuals who decided to give me a hard time about something I either did or didn’t do, either to your liking or in the manner in which you thought I should have, thank you as well. You showed me something about yourselves while doing so, but you also helped me learn to do my best and take things with a grain of salt. Not everyone will be pleased with everything others do, say or don’t do or say.

Society in general is far different than it was when I was growing up, no question. Society is actually very different than it was prior to the last presidential election, but VERY different than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. To each his own as the saying goes, in regards to people’s outlook on today’s society.

But to not let the positive flow of this final column of mine slip away, I will ride off into the horizon to a new job and more time at home with my family, in our cozy home and neighborhood in the Niagara Heights.

Take care ladies and gentleman, it’s been a pleasure.