Goodbyes are always hard for me, so let's call this final Write Team column "until we meet again."

During my 30 years as a paid journalist, my main goal, whether it was a feature article or school board meeting, was to make readers feel as though they were alongside me and my thoughts. I hope through my six months of columns you have felt that way whether it was on a quiet street in Streator or a noisy Diamondbacks ball park in Phoenix.

September and October were filled with high school reunions for my husband, Bob, and me. We started out with the Moon Valley High School's 40th reunion. Several of his grade school buddies are on the planning committee so off we went. Next, it was my Streator Township High School 50th in Streator and that was a fun time.

We finished the reunion route Oct. 16 and 17 with Bourgade Catholic High School's 40th and saw the football team's first win of the season, 40 over zip, and a post-game event in Madonna Hall. Saturday night it was a reunion dinner at a Sheraton and the usual round of socializing and photographs.

Recently, the Arizona Coyotes hockey team was a special weekend event for us. Friends of ours, Pam and Janet, have season tickets for the home games and the sisters invited Bob and me to the opening White Out event. It was a blast and probably more meaningful because this could be the final year for the Glendale stadium to host the ice hockey sport. One of those complicated sports business episodes.

I've always been a "coldie," especially since my breast cancer journey, so I asked my spouse, "Honey, do you think it will be cold because of the ice and all?" Bob is a "hottie," so he thought it would be regular temps. Flash forward to the game and Suzanne wearing her short-sleeved white NFL polo shirt from Super Bowl 2008 and also the give-away white T-shirts from Pam and Bob draped over her like miniblankets.

But, what a fun experience even if the Coyotes' howls were smothered 2-0 during the game.

A topic I didn't get to cover as a Write Team member is "neighbors." As the oldest of three Padilla girls, our best neighbor memory would have to be the Neitzel family: Ross and Darlene and their three kids, Alan, Ronald and Lura. We had so much fun with the boys, especially Alan.

In the "Happy Days" it was simpler. Neighbors might be the beneficiaries of a dad's fishing trip with his three daughters or a watermelon purchase might be shared between two families on a quiet summer evening.

As an adult, favorite neighbors would have to be the Aulabaughs. George and Beverly both worked at Owens-Illinois Glass and had two girls, Gayle and Linda. Our kids went to Sherman School together and the Aulabaughs were fun neighbors.

Now, our downtown condo complex neighbors are Arizona State University campus staff and students. Their large buildings, including the multi-storied dormitories, are to the south of our St. Croix Villas.

Luckily, our neighbors to the north remain pretty much the same. Low buildings and parking lots allow us a north view from our third-floor master suite, including distant mountain caps, clear skies, palm trees and tall buildings.

So, as my semifarewell gift to you, I ask you remain good neighbors, team players and Small Town friendly. That is the only way to survive anywhere in this crazy world no matter the size of the community.

And thanks, Lonny Cain and Paul Carpenter, for allowing me the chance to be on the Write Team. My semi-final message: Until we meet again.

• SUZANNE (LEONARD) KOVALCIK was born and raised in Streator and now lives in Arizona. She can be reached through The Times by e-mailing paulc@mywebtimes.com.