I am a relatively new reporter at the Times News, but not new to reporting.

After 23 years and at the age of 67 I still come away from interviews with something I did not know before.

I am always learning, and I hope it continues that way, because it would be very boring if I thought I knew everything.

Features are my first love, although my editor has me stepping somewhat out of my comfort zone and learning how to cover local government meetings. But here’s the thing, I am learning about local government and how residents should attend their township’s meetings to see what is going on.

Another lesson learned is, almost everyone’s job, no matter what they do, requires learning some sort of skill.

Making an ice-cream cone is not nearly as easy as it looks. There is an art to being able to twist the cone as the creamy treat flows into the cone. It is all in the twist of the wrist. Unfortunately, I did not have the wrist twist and my two attempts to make a cone turned into tilting blobs.

Many years ago, I rode with Life Flight for one week, and it was horrifying but amazing when watching the trauma team spring into action. It is almost like a well-rehearsed dance routine with everyone in the trauma bay knowing their place and what their job was. If something ever happens to me or my loved ones, they are the guys I want to have show up.

Another odd tidbit I learned when I was writing about funerals is you don’t actually have to be embalmed. If you are cremating within several days of a person’s death, embalming is not required. In fact, in some states embalming is not required as long as the body is properly preserved with refrigeration.

It is not just all the things I have learned; it includes the wonderful friendships I have made along the way. I met a reporter who became one of my dearest friends, and I am lucky enough to be working with her once again.

There is something special about giving someone a voice when they are not able to do it themselves.

I hope I never stop learning, listening, asking questions and experiencing new things.

Honestly, almost every feature I have done has left me with some fact or piece of knowledge I did not have before writing the story.

Being a reporter has taught me to judge less, listen more and to keep pushing out my comfort zone.