Adieu, John Grogan

I have in the past, made no secret of my utter contempt for the way the new owners of the Inquirer are running the paper. And the egos involved, are well, destroying the paper.

Like many others, I had noticed lately a large hole in the Inquirer: John Grogan was M.I.A.

Today Grogan came back....to say good-bye...

I know I am not the only one commenting on this today around Philadelphia, and I hear the Inquirer has been inundated with phone calls for the past few weeks.

The phrase that comes to mind today is "falling on your sword":

Fall on your sword

Meaning

Commit suicide or offer your resignation.

Origin

This expression is the anglicized version of hara-kiri - the Japanese samurai custom of committing suicide by disembowelment with a sword rather than face the dishonour of surrender. The highly ritualized and formal hara-kiri suicide - literally 'belly cut', is no longer performed. It has been known about in the West since the mid 19th century and was referred to in 1856 in Harper's Magazine in the title of an article - "Hari-kari of Japan". It that piece Harper's used, and possibly originated, the common misspelling 'hari-kari'.

The more recent anglicized version has only ever been used figuratively. For example, 'falling on his sword' might be used to describe someone who takes personal responsibility for a group action and resigns his post

John Grogan was one of my favorite columnists, even if in the beginning I found him a tad too preachy. But he reeled me in, and his love affair with his dog, which culminated in the book Marley and Me hooked me but good. He had me at "hello" with that book. I am a sap for animals, make no secret of it, and bawled like a baby the first time I read the book. I have read the book a few times since them. John Grogan's book is up there with my collection of James Herriot books.

I didn't think the Inquirer could be disemboweled further. I was wrong. I say wait and watch, more is to come...that is just my gut reaction of course, but while the Daily News has been pretty much left alone, The Philadelphia Inquirer is beginning to look like it will be totally killed off writer by writer.

Yes, new writers have to come up, and other writers have to move on....but how about a normal course of things, not chop, chop, chop? I doubt Brian Tierney, that Toll guy, and the pool of investors see anything wrong, but there is a lot wrong. Something's rotten in the state of Denmark, or shall we say Philadelphia. From politics to newspapers, this city just friggin' smells bad. For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be a Philadelphian.

John Grogan, I'll miss you. I didn't love every single column you ever did, that would be impossible...and against the grain of human nature. But I will miss you, as will many others. I will not be buying the Inquirer any more (if you recall I cancelled my subscription a while ago). It's so not worth it.

Here's where John Grogan says good-bye:
John Grogan | Coming home - and moving on
By John Grogan
Inquirer Columnist

A new chapter

And now, a personal note.

Like that soldier stepping off the plane into another life, I'm stepping out of one role and into another. Today is my last as an Inquirer staff columnist. I am hanging up column writing to concentrate full time on book projects.

Publisher Brian Tierney and my editors want you to know that I was not a casualty of layoffs or cutbacks or any other fate. The decision was mine alone.

Those of you who have been following the last 15 months of my life, in the wake of the surprise success of my book Marley & Me, know I've been trying to juggle essentially two full-time jobs, travel and a family, not always very well. The bottom line: I am spread too thin.

There is another reason, albeit a secondary one: I love newspapers, especially this one. I believe in their value and future. But I don't know if I have the fortitude to stomach the dramatic cutbacks they are being forced to make in order to survive.

That's not to say I won't try to drop in occasionally with a guest commentary. I also invite you to visit my blog at marleyandme.com.

A writer without readers is not quite whole. You, Inquirer readers, have blessed me with the kind of audience every columnist covets: smart, opinionated, engaged. Right from the start, when I arrived here in 2002, you made me feel welcome. Many of you have come to be my friends.

Thank you for inviting me into your homes, your lives and, on the best days, your hearts. It has been an honor.

Adieu Grogan. You'll be missed.

HAE