That’s Life — Steve Bornfeld: The Sun sets on That’s Life

Friday, July 28, 2000 | 9:04 a.m.

Steve Bornfeld is the Sun features editor. Reach him at steveb@lasvegassun.com or 259-4081.

"Fate seemed to pull the strings, I turned, and you were gone; while from the darkened wings, the music box played on."

Theme from the 1963 movie "Charade"

Those words soothe me and haunt me.

Beyond whatever meaning they held for Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, those poetic Johnny Mercer lyrics, set to one of the prettiest melodies ever composed by Henry Mancini, are about endings and memories. About fate engineering the end of a chapter in one's life, but leaving behind the memories that play on. At least that's how I always interpreted them.

And how I view my final That's Life column in the Sun on my final day at the Sun.

The memories are sweet, but fate has pulled the strings.

After three-plus years at the helm of the Accent section (yes, many of those terribly punny/rhymey story headlines were mine, and I apologize) while also penning the weekly Dial File column followed by That's Life, I've thrown my life a curveball: I will shortly join Las Vegas Life magazine as an editor/ writer.

One way or another, I'm a Lifer.

But after stalking the newsrooms of six daily newspapers from New York to Las Vegas over 17 years, the time seemed ripe for a change within the larger scope of my chosen craft, journalism -- although my byline might still crop up on these pages, because old newspaper habits die hard.

And since, as the expression goes, the only constant in life is change, I consider myself exceptionally consistent.

For me, change -- as long as it is logical change -- is part of the cycle of renewal and growth; a professional and personal refresher. For some (i.e., me) that is essential; for others, it is anathema. I understand both.

Within the communications field, many doors have graciously been open to me -- news reporter, feature writer, publicist, TV beat writer, columnist and editor -- and, despite trepidation each time, I've waded in. And while I might have, in hindsight, regretted individual choices, I never regretted the choice to explore -- even if I did have to hopscotch across the country to do it.

Back at the New York newspaper that welcomed me into real-world journalism when I volunteered for a career in ink-stained wretchery, my ex-colleagues are still doing the same jobs they were doing when I saw them last, during the Reagan administration.

And more power to them.

I've often envied that stability, that sense of continuity -- but mostly, that sense of enduring contentment. Of course, that isn't always what keeps my more grounded colleagues grounded. Issues of finance, family and geography, among others, play prominent roles. Still, the idea of finding your niche and sticking with it, hopefully growing along the way -- without the ground shifting beneath your feet -- has its allure.

But restlessness has often been my muse; growth through new challenges my mantra. It keeps it interesting for me.

As for the Sun and its readers who have been so wonderful to me?

I will always cherish that music box playing on and on in the darkened wings of my mind.

Change? Well, That's Life.

May yours be forever sweet.