I didn’t realize it had been that long. Not until I counted up all the years. More than 24. Dating back to … can it be?!? 1998. Wow.

Remember that year? So long ago? Google was founded. Bill Clinton was doing things in the White House that you shouldn’t do in the White House. The Spice Girls were pretty darn popular. What a year!

It was also when I first started writing this column for the St. Augustine Record, and kept it going, uninterrupted, for 24 years. Fifty-two a year. More than 1,200 in total. That’s nearly 1 million words. Wait, do the math again … yep. I’ve written almost 1 million words in this little weekly column.

How are there still tips on my fingers? Maybe that’s why I have the calluses, and my pinky is like a crooked twig.

Now, 24 years later, I’m sad to say I’m writing the final one for The Record.