Chuck Williams: Change, change, everywhere I look there is change

We are in a season of change.

For some reason, change has never bothered me like it bothers some other folks. In many ways, change is the one thing that never changes.

In my personal life we are changing seasons. Retirement is not something that looks so far away any more. A year ago, we triggered a 10-year plan to retirement.

I can handle 10 years. Then our financial adviser said, “Well, you got 120 months.”

Personal change is also coming in other ways. The kids are giving way to grand kids. The youngest of four is now a couple of semesters away from graduating from college.

My wife has left the elected office she has held for the last eight years.

It’s truly a season of change.

There is also change in my professional life.

For the last 25-plus years, 17 West 12th Street has been my work home. That’s all about to change. McClatchy has sold the Ledger-Enquirer building and we are moving a couple of blocks south to the Hardaway Building. I have joked with my bosses that I appreciate them cutting my commute in half. Now, it’s just three blocks. Columbus State University’s plans for the Ledger-Enquirer property will certainly change downtown.

I guess the newspaper is one of the reasons I adjust to change fairly well. Over a quarter of a century at the Ledger-Enquirer, change has come time and again. Most of the time, it was of my choosing.

I have changed jobs at the Ledger-Enquirer at least a dozen times. Assistant sports editor. Check. Sports editor. Check. Metro Editor. Check, check and recheck. Business editor. Check. Government reporter. Check. Investigative reporter. Check. Columnist. Check.

You get the picture. Lots of checks; lots of balance.

Change has been one of the constants. And the beauty of it is I have never lost a day of vacation.

You live with change. You grow from it. But most of all, you don’t fight it. If you fight it, it just tends to make you miserable.

Who wants to be miserable?

Not me.

Another thing got me thinking about change. At the corner of 13th Street and Veterans Parkway, change is taking place. Buddy Helton has closed his Chevron station.

Mr. Buddy, a man I love and respect, is finally retiring after 60 years in the filling station business. He has sold millions of gallons of gas. Think of the change he has seen. He’s seen the business go from full service to self service. Back when he started, Ethyl was the type of gas he sold. Today, it is likely to be the person in the booth taking your money.

He’s seen cars change. He’s seen Columbus and Phenix City change -- 85 years worth.

You have to roll with change. If you don’t, it will roll over you.

This story was originally published January 12, 2015 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Chuck Williams: Change, change, everywhere I look there is change."