Jane Pauley looks back

May 13 - Leaving “Dateline” and my partnership with Stone Phillips after 11 years, 27 years with NBC altogether, I’m thinking about what Michael J. Fox said after I told him if I were in his shoes, I’d be relaxing, conserving my energy.

HE SAID, “And what would you be conserving your energy for?”

Michael J. Fox sets a standard I couldn’t hope to match, but one I hope to shoot for.

In a perfect world, we’d get to do everything we wanted. The best we can hope for is to make the most of our opportunities. I know of few people who have had more opportunities than I’ve had.

This was clear to my daughter when she was only four years old. Coming in and out of a room I realized she was engrossed in an old Judy Garland movie. A little odd for her age, I asked her what it was about.

She said, “It’s about a girl from Indiana who tap danced and came to New York and fell in love. Just like you, mommy!”

Its true. Among my blessings is a beautiful family and that includes thousands of my colleagues here, over the years. And wherever my opportunities take me next, I expect my membership in the NBC family to last a lifetime.

However, this might be the last time I get to say, “For all of us at NBC News, goodnight.”