Thanks to Interstate 85, the drive from Selma, Alabama into LaGrange isn’t a difficult one. I was glad that was the case Monday morning, as I made the drive over to begin my first day of work as the managing editor of The LaGrange Daily News.

I had so much on my mind — so many thoughts and ideas — and a lot of built up anticipation that the simple drive allowed me to think ahead a bit. I thought about my past — the journey to get to this job — and about the work and joys ahead.

I grew up in Woodstock, Alabama — now known for its S-Town podcast fame — and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Woodstock is a city of about 900 people.

I went to high school in nearby West Blocton before graduating and attending UAB.

I was actually born in Huntsville, Alabama, but my dad was in the military, so we moved multiple times in my younger days to cities and towns I honestly do not remember very well.

One of those cities was Hinesville, so this new job isn’t my first venture across the Georgia state line, though I remember little about that time in my life.

For the last four years, I’ve lived and worked in Selma, one of the most unique cities in the United States.

I learned a lot during those four years, although admittedly I still have a long way to go.

My wife, Alyssa, and I will be celebrating our third anniversary in June, and we are expecting Autumn, our first child, to be arriving soon after.

Given all the recent and upcoming changes in my life — the new job, moving and a new baby — I keep joking that we’re just trying to get all of the difficult stuff out of the way at one time.

However, we know this is a joyous time in our lives. We’re excited and grateful for the opportunity we have in LaGrange. We’ve only spent a couple of days in the city so far, but everyone we’ve met has been nice and welcoming.

In the coming weeks and months, I plan to meet as many people in the community as I can. If you see me out and about, please don’t hesitate to walk up and say hello.

More than likely, I’ll be flagging down at least a few of you for directions over the next few weeks as I try to find my way around.

I am looking forward to the years to come working and living in LaGrange and doing the best I can to ensure the newspaper meets the community’s standards.