Thanks for the memories

AORN Journal, June, 2008 by Nancy J. Girard

This Editorial will be the last time I speak with you as Editor-in-Chief of the AORN Journal, so I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you. I have so many wonderful memories from these years of service. An icon of music and movies from years past, the late, great, Mr Bob Hope, used to sing a song with the above title, and I have chosen to mimic that song in my last message to you.

Thanks for the memory of learning to meet monthly deadlines, effectively soliciting and obtaining enough manuscripts to produce a journal every month, and determining the difference between an organizational journal and an independent one. How important that was.

Thanks for the memory of meeting experienced writers who were fantastic to work with, enthusiastic novice writers who were willing to put up with endless critiques, and industry writers who contributed meaningful and important information. How exciting that was.

Thanks for the memory of helping to increase the scholarship of the Journal by working with a great research editor and researchers who shared their empirical studies; clinicians who contributed information from valuable quality improvement projects; and writers of literature reviews, scientific columns, and evidenced-based articles. How educational that was.

Thanks for the memory of redesigning the Journal, from new fonts, titles, and layout to color and covers; participating in the selection of an outside publisher; changing from paper and pencil manuscript submissions to electronic ones; implementing electronic peer reviews; and putting the Journal online. How intensive that was.

Thanks for the memory of AORN Journal Editorial Board members, editorial staffmates, AORN Board members, and AORN administrators and staff members. How supportive you were.

And finally, thanks for the memory of friends, acquaintances, professional associates, editorial contacts, and support buddies. How fantastic you are!

   So, thanks for the memory
   And strictly entre-nous, darling how
   are you?
   And how are all the little dreams that
   never did come true?
   Aw'flly glad I met you, cheerio, and
   toodle-oo
   And thank you so much. (1)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

REFERENCE

(1.) Hope B. Thanks for the memory. In: Thanks for The Memories [compact disc]. Universal City, CA: Mca Special Products, 2003.

NANCY J. GIRARD

PHD, RN, FAAN

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF