Hello, Sacramento

Just seven weeks ago, I was sitting at the home-office desk (dining-room table), working on my laptop, when an email arrived from my wife, Traci Hukill, with the subject line “Sac N&R looking for an editor.” I felt a twinge of excitement. That surprised me.

I was surprised because I was not looking for a job. I was not looking to leave our home in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I had a handful of challenging and satisfying gigs, including our own online startup and a glossy magazine. Still, when I followed the SN&R link and read the job posting, I started working up my application immediately.

I explained in this space last week that, as a longtime alt-weekly editor, I’ve been a fan of the News & Review for more than 20 years. That’s a big reason this job appealed. Another big attraction was the city of Sacramento.

As it happens, last July, Traci and I came to Sac to meet up with my daughter and her husband, whose band was playing at Ace of Spades. We arrived early and wandered around Midtown, both of us blown away. The warm evening air was a balm to a couple of longtime coastal dwellers. We were charmed by the cool old neighborhoods, the canopy of sycamores, the crowds enjoying the evening. Of course we’d spent time in the city, but that summer night captured our hearts.

We are now among the throngs who’ve discovered your hometown. And we like it just like it is—grungy semipro wrestlers and all.