Friends, Tacomans, Countrymen,

So I'm leaving the Weekly Volcano.

After almost nine years of writing for the Volcano, and four years acting as editor, the time has come for me to move on. I've accepted a staff writer position at the Seattle Weekly and will start with the paper Monday, traveling via-Sounder to that city to the north and opening a new chapter of my life and career.

I'm excited by the prospect of the new challenge and opportunity, while at the same time can't help but be filled with substantial remorse. I love the Volcano, will be forever indebted to Publisher Ron Swarner, and feel strongly connected to both Olympia and Tacoma. This was by no means an easy decision.

There are many approaches one could take with a letter like this. Rather than getting painfully longwinded or overly nostalgic, I'll opt for brevity. My time at the Volcano has been remarkably rewarding and memorable, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity. It's an opportunity that's left its mark. There are few places where a person can blossom from nothing and rise into their own like Tacoma, and through the Volcano I've had the chance to grow up along with the paper. I've given my all to the task of making the Volcano the best it can possibly be, with highs and lows along the way. I hope to have spun a few decent sentences in the process.

I'd like to thank Ron Swarner, the entire Volcano and Swarner Communications staff - past and present, and most of all the readers.

I'd also like the thank Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, the Jet City Fix, the Goldfish Tavern, the Day Brothers, well drinks, hot tubs, the Planet Hot Rod, Flash, Pho King, shuffleboard at the BroHo, Bon Von Wheelie and Girl Trouble, Mark and Chelsea Lindquist, Pao's Donuts, the Tacoma Rainiers (especially Mike Carp last year), mud wrestling at Neener's back in the day, the Evergreen State College, Who Cares, KBTC 91.7FM "Classical Rock," Splendid Vengeance, John Larson's WSU hat, NWCZRadio.com, Jeff Angell, Cloverleaf Pizza, Matt Youngmark and Jeff Daniel, Lisa Gunter, my sister, the three guys that jumped me by the Tacoma Mall bus station back in the day, BBCs from MSM, Rockin' Rod, Vicci Martinez, Hot Pants Deb Michael (wherever you may be), Jason McKibbin, Robert "the Traveller" Hill, Joe Rosati's Charles Grodin impression, Justin Peterson's beard, Teddy Haggarty's sketches, Tim Farrell's bees, Stadium Thriftway, Canadian bacon sandwiches from Spud's, Edgemont Junior High and - last, but certainly not least - my loving and extremely understanding wife and family.

Though I look forward to what the future brings, I will miss being part of the Volcano.

Always,

Matt Driscoll