It’s so hard to say goodbye.

I’ve always wanted to lead off The Booth Review with a Boyz II Men song, so it’s fitting that my dream finally comes true in this, the final installment.

My time here at The Vicksburg Post has come to an end.

In April, I’ll head over to another publication to cover the Tennessee Vols in Knoxville — the only place in America that’s more orange than a Mississippi deer stand in December.

Vicksburg has been my home for a mere eight months, but in that time I’ve experienced enough to last at least eight more.

I was fortunate enough to join St. Al on its phenomenal run to the state championship. I got to ask some guy named Malcolm Butler how many times he’s seen Bill Belichik smile two months before watching him make one of the most historic plays in Super Bowl history. I stood on the sidelines until midnight at the Red Carpet Bowl, one of Mississippi’s most endearing high school football traditions, before being yelled at for almost missing deadline because I figured, hey, we can just print the paper whenever I’m done.

Serving this community and its people for the better part of a year has been a truly humbling, awe-inspiring and (at times) cringe-inducing practice. I’ve been called a homer for every school but my own alma mater, Southern Miss, who — I’ve been told — I hate more than any team not named Al Qaeda U.

I’ve butchered names, mixed up stats and checked my mailbox for anthrax/money after writing a column about Ole Miss without mentioning Mississippi State.

The whole thing has been wilder than a motorcycle ride with Bobby Petrino.

This is but a small space, too tight to thoroughly express my appreciation for those who have been so instrumental in my time here, but I’ll try to do my best.

I’d like to first thank my editor, Paul Barry, for giving me this wonderful opportunity and helping me develop as a layout designer, photographer and adult. You gave me this job and this space and always kept an open door.

To fellow sports reporter Ernest Bowker, the Post’s de-facto sports editor who knows everything and everyone in Warren County. If there was a Mt. Rushmore dedicated to Vicksburg sports, Ernest’s face would take up two spots (Don’t get any ideas, though. We wouldn’t want to frighten the children.) Vicksburg is lucky to have Ernest, and it’s my hope you all realize it.

To publisher Tim Reeves, for both not firing me and being the coolest boss since Michael Scott left The Office. To the entire newsroom staff, whom have all been so welcoming and helpful that it made my transition as smooth as the Mississippi on a calm June evening.

To every single coach, player and parent who make our job worth doing, thank you. Your accessibility, friendliness and passion drove me to do my best on a daily basis.

And finally I’d like to thank you, the reader. All three of you. Serving you has been an absolute pleasure, and every kind email, appreciative word and death threat was the fuel to my engine.

You allowed me to tell the story of a boy named Chance who got a second one, of a VHS student who made the phrase “you kick like a girl” a compliment, of a group of deaf kayakers the whole world could hear.

For that, I can’t thank you enough.

Wow.

I think I just shed a tear on my keyboard.

Wait, no, never mind.

I just spilled a little of my beer.

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Cory Gunkel is a sports writer. He can be reached at 601-619-7120 or by email at cory.gunkel@vicksburgpost.com