Rose Fernandez

My thoughts for today: For the first time in 44 years, I started my morning without having to think about work. No calls to make. No sources to check in on. No deadlines to meet. And I’m OK with that. At least for now. Day-to-day journalism is hard. It can be demanding, unpredictable and occasionally exhausting. But I loved doing it. It was never simply a job for me. It was a passion, and I had the incredible good fortune to make that passion my life’s work. Along the way, I worked alongside an extraordinary group of colleagues. They are truly awesome, and I’m grateful to so many of them. My career began in 1982 as a young reporter in Peoria, Illinois. My first stop in Wisconsin was WBAY in Green Bay, a very good place to land. It’s also where I met my wife, Sharon. In 1986, I arrived in Milwaukee and spent 15 years at WITI-TV. After a three-year detour to Madison at WKOW, I came back to Milwaukee in 2004 and spent the next 22 years at TMJ4. There were plenty of big stories along the way. Thank you, Packers, Bucks and Brewers, for giving me some championship seasons to cover. When I arrived in Wisconsin 40 years ago, I had no idea I would stay this long. But there were always stories to tell, places to go and, of course, politics in battleground Wisconsin to keep me busy. What an incredible journey it has been. I leave this chapter filled with gratitude. Most of all, I’m thankful to the people of the Milwaukee area who trusted me to tell their stories and help make sense of a complicated and ever-changing world. That trust has meant more to me than I can adequately express. As for what’s next, I honestly don’t know. “Retiring” doesn’t seem to fit my DNA, so I’ll still be around. I hope there’s more to do but I’ll keep you posted. I’ll definitely be on the bicycle more. Wisconsin has some great bike trails. And I expect to spend a little more time hanging out in coffee shops. So if you see me, say hello. I love a good conversation. My final farewell at TMJ4 will be on Wednesday during the 4p News.