I have a weird memory, really, I don't forget anything. But it also is inlaid with songs, so when I hear a song, a memory from 20 years ago will pop into my head and I can be right back in the moment. It is fantastic as it helps me remember many wonderful memories from over the years. My husband has a horrendous memory, and I often joke that he just keeps me around so I can tell him about his past life. In preparation of Matt Minglewood coming to town this week, I have been listening to every single one of his cds and tapes(yes, I still have some of his tapes), and the memories are overwhelming. But when I think of Matt Minglewood, Valentine's Day and a snow storm the thoughts of all my girlfriends over my life are the ones that come back the strongest. Yeah, I never said I was normal. So my love note today is going out to all my girlfriends, past and present and the good times we had, the good times to come, and all the listening you did over they years.
Where to start? As women, we all have wonderful friends, and they all come and go in our lives, so my challenge to you this week is to acknowledge some of them that you may have not seen for years, but who you would love to talk to or see. You know the ones, the girlfriend who when you see each other again you fall into each others arms, and laugh, and cry, and wonder why you don't keep in better in touch. Sadly, I have quite a few of those girlfriends, distance keeps us apart, and lack of time keeps us all busy. We say we will keep in touch, and then the phone calls dwindle, but if something happened, they would be the first to call and it would be like no time at all had gone by.
Picture this...it is 24 years ago, and I am just about to turn 16. It is Valentine's Day, and the weather forecast does not look good. It is also Carnival Week in Port Hood, and I am determined to go to a coffee house, or some such thing on a Thursday night. I don't remember how we got there, but Shannon MacNeil(now Beaton) was somehow talked into being my sidekick for the night. Someone dropped us off early and we went to babysit first with my other best friend at the time, Elaine Murphy(MacDonald). By the time we got back to Elaine's to get ready for the night, we found out it was cancelled, the roads were all ice. And when I say they were all ice, I mean that we could barely stand. But we somehow convinced Elaine's brothers to take us home and it took them a half hour just to get the truck out of the yard. Shannon had white pants on, and we both had on the suede boots that were so cool at the time, you remember the ones that laced up and were as thin as anything? Yeah, those. There was no way the boys would make it up my lane when we arrived in the Harbour, and we convinced them that we would be fine walking up. Well, by that time it was raining, kind of like sleet, and there we were on Valentine's Day, holding each other up, trying to find a piece of gravel on the "big hill" so we wouldn't slide back to the bottom. By the time we got to my parents house, we were frozen to the bone, and exhausted. But my god, we laughed, and when she reads this, she will laugh again. What the hell were we thinking?
Elaine was beyond far my best friend through high school. She was the first friend I had that made me voice my opinion, even when I didn't want to. She shared my love of reading, and we had the best con versations, hands down. But we could also be together, and we were together a lot, and not say a word, and we were comfortable with that. When we went our "separate" ways at college, I thought my heart would break, we wrote each other every day. I am hoping to see her this summer, and if I do, it will be the first time in about 12 years. Holy, where does the time go? Wow, I didn't realize it was that long.
Colleen MacDonald-Novak and I went to more Matt Minglewood dances together than I can even remember. But now sadly, it has been about 16 years since the last time we went to any dance together. The last one was in Port Hood, the long weekend of May in 1997, I was eight months pregnant, and when Matt started playing Whiz Kids, we still got up and danced together. Two best friends who never care what others thought when we were at Matt, we were there to dance, and have fun, and we always did! I must have looked cute with my huge belly ready to pop dancing like a fool, but we danced like no one was watching.
Tracey MacDonald(MacDonnell) and Shelley Cummings worked with me, and grew up in the Harbour. My god, all us girls from the Harbour were so proud to say we were from there. We have history that no one can take away, and we laugh at silly things that even if I told you the story, you would not think it was as funny as we always do. We "get" each other, and no matter how much time goes by, we literally can send a message, have a visit, or make a phone call and it is like we have never stopped.
Tammy Kersten was my absolute best friend, rock and all round amazing person in my life after I had kids. I actually thought about not leaving Cape Breton because I was going to miss her friendship so much. I can remember her telling me, "You will make other friends in Fort McMurray, and they will be as good or better than me." So I moved, and at first I called her religiously, and we still knew every aspect of each other's lives. But life started taking new turns, and I would forget to tell her some news. But I still love her fiercely, and we won't be spending Valentine's together this year baking for a class party, but the next time I go home, you can bet that we will be together, and I will say, I wish we could be together more.
And now my life is different again. Again last year, I "lost" my best friend. Tim's sister, Michelle was my Fort McMurray rock, we celebrated with the kids during pretty much every holiday/event, and I called or texted her about the most mundane things that would get on someone else's nerves. When she left, I had a huge gaping hole in my life, that I still have not gotten use to, and I will always miss sitting on the deck in the summer evenings with her. She, like Tammy told me I would be fine, and I am, but the change was difficult.
I never realized I had someone standing beside me the whole time, listening to me cry about losing Michelle and how much I missed her kids. It was really not until Tim's accident in July when my eyes popped open, and I realized that Kerin MacLean had quietly stepped up the plate of putting up with my insane way of being a friend...she knows I hate the phone and has learned she will get a better response by texting me...we can go a week without chatting but we know what is going on with each other. She did things during those first few weeks of Tim's accident for me that I did not even realize I needed. She lent a hand however she could, but even more importantly for me, she gives me a total kick in the arse when I need it. You know you have a best friend when they say, "What the hell are you doing?" or, "You need a break."
I am the first to admit I am not an "easy" friend. I can be weird in my ways, I don't like the phone, like I mentioned, I don't like to talk about being sick when I am sick, and I am constantly on the run with the kids, and generally don't take time to do girl evenings, even though I love them when I am usually forced to take one. But I will tell you one thing, I treasure my friends, and what they have done with me, or for me over the years. I still love the ones I don't see anymore, and still consider them wonderful friends.
Did any of my memories remind you of some of your friends? I hope you call them, or send them a message this week. I will be going with some of my girlfriends to the casino, and I hope we make more great memories, it will be my first time without Michelle out here for Matt, so I will be thinking of you girl, and still missing you!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
YES! I am from Mabou!
Okay, so I debated writing something about Mabou and the news in all the media all day. And since you all know I will write about anything, I thought I would throw my two cents out, not that even that is worth anything!
Do I know the MacNeils? Yes, do I know them well enough to judge them, and the situation they are in? Absolutely not! All I know of the situation is what I have read in the media. And let me tell you, the media is not always reliable or truthful, and it is really good at only telling half the story. I have read nothing balanced. I have read that something happened on the plane they were on, perhaps they were smoking, I don't know, as I was not there, and have not talked to the MacNeils myself. Anyhow, the plane was diverted to Bermuda and they were detained for not following lawful commands, and smoking on a plane. Granted, not the best decision they have ever made, and I am sure they will be the first to admit it.
But come on! Stand up and take a bow if you have never, ever made a stupid mistake! Mabou is use to media attention mostly for our musical talents, the likes of John Allan Cameron, and of course the Rankin family have given us great pride over the years. So we may not like the negative press. But one incident by one family does not a family, or community make! I would be more humiliated if our tiny village turned their backs on the MacNeils than whatever they did on one flight. They did not abuse their children, they did not commit a murder, they did not abandon an animal, so let's get a little grip. It is unfortunate that other's travel plans were disrupted, but in the grand scheme of life, they could have done so much worse.
I am sure Father Angus will have a little something to say, with a joke added in on Sunday, and I will leave their penance to him. Because as Father Angus knows, I am no saint, so I have no stones to throw.
Am I from Mabou? Yep! Do I know the MacNeils? Yes, damn straight, and they are good people and I know when I was living in Mabou and called David to say I was out of gas, he would have come to lend a hand, and if I met Darlene at the store, she always asked how I was doing, and had a smile on her face. I hope they do not pay for this mistake for the rest of their lives, as no one is deserving of that. If you see them, say hello from me, and tell them Mabou loves them. And thanks to Steve Rankin for the beautiful picture, go check out his Facebook page, at Steve Rankin Photography!
Do I know the MacNeils? Yes, do I know them well enough to judge them, and the situation they are in? Absolutely not! All I know of the situation is what I have read in the media. And let me tell you, the media is not always reliable or truthful, and it is really good at only telling half the story. I have read nothing balanced. I have read that something happened on the plane they were on, perhaps they were smoking, I don't know, as I was not there, and have not talked to the MacNeils myself. Anyhow, the plane was diverted to Bermuda and they were detained for not following lawful commands, and smoking on a plane. Granted, not the best decision they have ever made, and I am sure they will be the first to admit it.
But come on! Stand up and take a bow if you have never, ever made a stupid mistake! Mabou is use to media attention mostly for our musical talents, the likes of John Allan Cameron, and of course the Rankin family have given us great pride over the years. So we may not like the negative press. But one incident by one family does not a family, or community make! I would be more humiliated if our tiny village turned their backs on the MacNeils than whatever they did on one flight. They did not abuse their children, they did not commit a murder, they did not abandon an animal, so let's get a little grip. It is unfortunate that other's travel plans were disrupted, but in the grand scheme of life, they could have done so much worse.
I am sure Father Angus will have a little something to say, with a joke added in on Sunday, and I will leave their penance to him. Because as Father Angus knows, I am no saint, so I have no stones to throw.
Am I from Mabou? Yep! Do I know the MacNeils? Yes, damn straight, and they are good people and I know when I was living in Mabou and called David to say I was out of gas, he would have come to lend a hand, and if I met Darlene at the store, she always asked how I was doing, and had a smile on her face. I hope they do not pay for this mistake for the rest of their lives, as no one is deserving of that. If you see them, say hello from me, and tell them Mabou loves them. And thanks to Steve Rankin for the beautiful picture, go check out his Facebook page, at Steve Rankin Photography!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday, and it is weigh in time!
So I am starting to think that the thought of having a few thousand people checking in with me on Mondays to see if I gained or lost weight is a good thing! When I first thought about putting it out there and then "telling" on myself every week I was not sure if I could do it, but you know what? Something has really clicked with me this time, and I am not sure why, but it has, and the thought of eating a quarter pounder and fries almost turns my stomach. I say almost because I am sure there will be a day when I have a craving and I am running late, and it will be easy. But for tonight...I am still down, I dropped another two pounds this last week!
My initial goal was to lose 9 pounds by the time Matt Minglewood came to town. So this means that I have to lose 1.8 pounds this week before my weigh in next Monday. And then I am going to buy myself some new pants and boots to wear to see Matt! So there is my goal for the week, what's yours? Are you going to start your weight loss journey with me and all the others who have joined our facebook group, "Losing it from Fort McMurray to Nova Scotia"? I saw a little motivation poster the other day and all it said was, "If you don't start today, you will still be the same in a year." Well, hopefully in a year's time I will be down about another 30 pounds, and feeling healthy and comfortable in my body. Oh, and thanks to everyone who is sharing their journey with me, it feels like we have our own support group and I love how we all give support, or a kick which ever is needed.
Oh, and I almost forgot, I got the most amazing app on my phone, and it has made my lifestyle changes so easy! It is called My Fitness Pal, and you can put whatever food in the world you are eating, and it will show you the calories, and track them for you. You can also keep track of your water, exercise, and your friends! I love how it tracks my calories, and if I am running out for the day, it motivates me to do some exercise. If you have a smart phone and are trying to lose weight, this app is a must! K, have a great week!
My initial goal was to lose 9 pounds by the time Matt Minglewood came to town. So this means that I have to lose 1.8 pounds this week before my weigh in next Monday. And then I am going to buy myself some new pants and boots to wear to see Matt! So there is my goal for the week, what's yours? Are you going to start your weight loss journey with me and all the others who have joined our facebook group, "Losing it from Fort McMurray to Nova Scotia"? I saw a little motivation poster the other day and all it said was, "If you don't start today, you will still be the same in a year." Well, hopefully in a year's time I will be down about another 30 pounds, and feeling healthy and comfortable in my body. Oh, and thanks to everyone who is sharing their journey with me, it feels like we have our own support group and I love how we all give support, or a kick which ever is needed.
Oh, and I almost forgot, I got the most amazing app on my phone, and it has made my lifestyle changes so easy! It is called My Fitness Pal, and you can put whatever food in the world you are eating, and it will show you the calories, and track them for you. You can also keep track of your water, exercise, and your friends! I love how it tracks my calories, and if I am running out for the day, it motivates me to do some exercise. If you have a smart phone and are trying to lose weight, this app is a must! K, have a great week!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Honey lime Salmon with warm black bean and corn salad
Ingredients:
- 2 T. Olive Oil
1 Med. Red Onion
2 large Garlic Cloves
1/2 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 tsp. Ground Cumin
3 T. Honey
1 tsp. Chili Powder
7 6oz. Slamon Fillets
1 Box Frozen Corn kernels, defrosted
1/2 C. Chicken Broth
1 15 oz. can Black Beans, drained and washed.
3 T Fresh Cilantro
6 C. Baby Spinach
2 Limes
- Directions:
Directions
In a skillet over medium heat with 2 T of the olive oil add the onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and cumin. Cook for 3 minutes.While the onions are cooking combine in a small dish the juice of 1 lime, honey, and chili powder. Add the salmon and toss to coat thoroughly. Place on a hot grill and cook until flakes with fork.
Once the onions are cooked add the corn and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the balck beans and cook unitl the beans are just heated through. Remove the skillet from heat and add the juice of 1 lime, the cilantro, and spinach. Toss to wilt spinach and then taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve the salmon on top of the warm black bean salad.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Challenging week.
It's Monday, and confessional time! I am happy to say that I am down again this week, even if it was only by .8. I am happy with this, because I went to Calgary for two days, and I am proud of myself because I still stuck somewhat with eating healthy. I had no drinks, or fast food, save some pad thai, which I didn't completely finish. And let me tell you, there is something about staying in a hotel room that makes you want pizza, lol! But I didn't give in, and I didn't give in when it was easier to at the airport...I kept walking until I found a spot selling some salads and sandwiches.
So while I am not down by much, I did not give in too badly. I think the challenge for me to start kicking it up is to find some exercise that I can do inside, because this cold weather just sucks!
But I will tell you something fantastic that happened this week. I went to find a new outfit when I was in Calgary to wear to Oprah's show, and I went into the dressing room with size 16 pants. I had not bought new pants since before I started losing weight almost a year ago...I know, I know, I have issues...but anyway, the 16s were too big! I had to ask the sales lady to bring me a size 14. Once I exited the dressing room with the new 14s on, and much to my delight the sales lady confirmed what I had thought...the 14 was to big as well! So I am back into a size 12 pant, and the journey continues!
So while I am not down by much, I did not give in too badly. I think the challenge for me to start kicking it up is to find some exercise that I can do inside, because this cold weather just sucks!
But I will tell you something fantastic that happened this week. I went to find a new outfit when I was in Calgary to wear to Oprah's show, and I went into the dressing room with size 16 pants. I had not bought new pants since before I started losing weight almost a year ago...I know, I know, I have issues...but anyway, the 16s were too big! I had to ask the sales lady to bring me a size 14. Once I exited the dressing room with the new 14s on, and much to my delight the sales lady confirmed what I had thought...the 14 was to big as well! So I am back into a size 12 pant, and the journey continues!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Lord, why does this have to be so hard?
Okay, so it's Monday, so that means it was a weigh in night for me. I was not feeling as confident going tonight as I did last week, and I had reason....I lost, but only a pound.
And let me tell you, I was still good over the last week. No fast food, no alcohol(well most of the time), and only one small serving of pasta during the whole week. We went to an event at the local college one night, and we ate out before hand, but I was so good, I looked up the menu before we left and picked low calorie items and stuck to the plan....except for one glass of wine. And on Saturday night, with friends over, over a period of four hours I had two glasses of wine. So that was my cheat for the week. I expected a loss, but I was hoping for a bigger number.
So why does it have to be so hard? It was so easy to put the weight on! You would think that once you made the commitment that the weight would slip off just as easily. But while flipping through the TV stations the other night, one five minute segment caught my eye, and CLICKED...it was the Biggest Loser, and they were telling a man that he had to start exercising and eating better. In response, he said that he did not have the time to fit in exercise, and cooking meals took too much time. We are all busy, and admit it, it is just easier to have something quick, or to sit to relax in the evening for a few minutes instead of trying to fit in some exercise. Well, the woman asked him, "If you had cancer, would you take the time to go get chemo?" Well, yes he said, of course! Well when we carry extra weight around, especially large amounts of it, it affects our body just like a cancer...it might take longer, but it is killing us just the same. That has stayed with me over the last couple of days, after doing chemo, how could I not be looking after my body better now? I am humiliated to think how lucky I am to still be here, and this is the thanks I give to my body. Things must change, and I will continue on this journey.
Now I will have a challenge over the next two days, since I will be going to Calgary to see Oprah. I hope that I can stay on a healthy eating track and fit some walking in to help as well.
Let me know how you are doing, we have a great group going on Facebook, drop me a note if you would like to be added!
And let me tell you, I was still good over the last week. No fast food, no alcohol(well most of the time), and only one small serving of pasta during the whole week. We went to an event at the local college one night, and we ate out before hand, but I was so good, I looked up the menu before we left and picked low calorie items and stuck to the plan....except for one glass of wine. And on Saturday night, with friends over, over a period of four hours I had two glasses of wine. So that was my cheat for the week. I expected a loss, but I was hoping for a bigger number.
So why does it have to be so hard? It was so easy to put the weight on! You would think that once you made the commitment that the weight would slip off just as easily. But while flipping through the TV stations the other night, one five minute segment caught my eye, and CLICKED...it was the Biggest Loser, and they were telling a man that he had to start exercising and eating better. In response, he said that he did not have the time to fit in exercise, and cooking meals took too much time. We are all busy, and admit it, it is just easier to have something quick, or to sit to relax in the evening for a few minutes instead of trying to fit in some exercise. Well, the woman asked him, "If you had cancer, would you take the time to go get chemo?" Well, yes he said, of course! Well when we carry extra weight around, especially large amounts of it, it affects our body just like a cancer...it might take longer, but it is killing us just the same. That has stayed with me over the last couple of days, after doing chemo, how could I not be looking after my body better now? I am humiliated to think how lucky I am to still be here, and this is the thanks I give to my body. Things must change, and I will continue on this journey.
Now I will have a challenge over the next two days, since I will be going to Calgary to see Oprah. I hope that I can stay on a healthy eating track and fit some walking in to help as well.
Let me know how you are doing, we have a great group going on Facebook, drop me a note if you would like to be added!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Love in the Newspaper Business
My love of the written word came early in my life, I can remember my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Ralph would come to visit in Mabou Harbor, and they would bring literature from the big city of Halifax. I kid you not, when I heard they were coming, I would land at my Nanny's house as they were taking in their bags, so I could have first dibs on the bags that they would bring full of magazines, books and even newspapers. Nanny would let me take some picks from the bags, and then when I was finished, I could bring them back and pick some more. I was one of those kids who would sneak a flashlight into bed so I could keep reading at night, and my mother would chase me outdoors on beautiful summer days, telling me to get my nose out of the books for a while.
But growing up in rural Cape Breton, back 30 years ago, you did not meet many writers, and I certainly did not meet anyone who was a writer for a living. I left home to go off to college never thinking I could do anything with my writing, other than to keep a journal for my own outlet. Years went by, and I kept coming back to wondering if I could ever write and be able to share it. My boys were about 7 and 5 when I really started spending more time writing again, and my best friend, Tammy, and my ever supportive husband kept encouraging me to send some of my work some where, any where really. I think I finally caved when Tim asked me something like, "Why bother writing if you are never going to do anything with it?"
I sent a few column ideas to the local paper, The Reporter, and within a day or two I heard back from the editor, Jake Boudrot. I had my first writing job, and column with the paper, and my first editor in Jake. I will always be grateful for that job, it was the opportunity that I needed to start sharing, and receiving feedback. And in Cape Breton, I got lots of both, lol. If no one else ever thought I was a good writer, at least, I thought, Jake thought I was good enough to hire for his paper. It was an ego boost, and needed! I continued with the paper until after I moved to Fort McMurray.
But when I moved to Fort McMurray, the thought of looking for a writing job never crossed my mind. I had no degree, and I happily repeated that to anyone who asked why I wasn't writing. However, to get a house out here, I needed a job for the mortgage, and I applied and landed a job with the registry office. It was another job that I was grateful for, but I was not cut out for a customer service job where many days the customers were irate about one thing or another. After eight months or so, I gave my notice. Now here is where the story gets good.
On my very last day of work, just before Christmas I was helping the girls in the office work our way through another long line. We were locking the door, and I was just going to start closing my desk when a gentlemen came in and asked if he was too late to do a registration, it would be his last day to do it before the end of the month since we were closing over the holidays. I waved him over to my desk, and one of the girls said how he would be my last customer. "Oh really?", he asked, "I suppose you are going to site are you? " A few people had asked me what I was going to do next, and Tim and I had agreed that I would take something if it interested me, and otherwise we would once again adjust our lifestyles so I could be home with the kids full time again.
No, I answered, I had no job lined up yet, and I wasn't sure what to do. He lifted his head from signing his paper, and said, "Well, you are in Fort McMurray, if you could have any job you wanted and get paid for it, what would it be?" I paused a second before saying, "I would be a writer." I thought maybe he would laugh, or shake his head like so many others before had, and say something like, "Oh, why would you want to do that?" But instead he looked intently at me, and asked if I was serious. Well, yes, I was serious, but....I had no degree, I was not a writer.
The man asked if I had ever written anything, and I explained about my small column back home, and that I had lots of other "pieces" that I worked on for myself. And then I will never forget the next minute, when he took his card out of his black 3/4 length jacket and handed it to me. His name was Tim O'Rourke, and he was the publisher of the Fort McMurray Today, the only local daily newspaper. He told me to send him some of my work and he would hand it onto his editors. That was on December 21st, and it took me until December 27th to finally build enough courage to send him a few things. On December 29th, Mike Hall, my new editor called me and offered me my first full time job....as a paid writer! I had two editors at the Today, Mike, and Dan MacEachern, and I can easily say five and a half years later, that it was the best job I ever had, and I loved meeting everyone in the community and writing about their stories. And I can also say that Dan and Mike taught me more working with them that I had learned in many, many years. I was so eager to not mess up or disappoint them that I would bring the CP style book home from the office to learn where to put my commas and how to use my quotation marks. Mike was like a walking encyclopedia, and we had fascinating conversations about life in Alberta, politics, and his beloved Fort McMurray. Dan took the time when I needed it to talk about an idea for a story, or advice on how to deliver a story in the best way possible. I felt blessed, it was like I had rich resources in the room with me every day. I am sad to say that Mike passed away, and Dan moved back East, but their influence was greater than either of them probably ever realized.
And then we had life interrupt again, I had health issues, and then we adopted our little girl, and she had health problems, so I once again decided to be home as a full time mom. But I worked with more wonderful editors from home for the Chronicle Herald and the Cape Breton Post, and kept writing at least a little bit every week. But after three and a half years, I found that I had the itch to get back into the game and start writing locally again. I sent an email to the editor at the Today, Jessica McIntosh, wondering if there was anything available at the paper. And again, fate or timing, or whatever you want to call it was on my side. They were changing over the website to a new format, and were looking for some community bloggers or writers, and after a meeting with the publisher, Mary-Ann Kostiuk, I was back to "work". They have been wonderfully supportive as I find my voice again and explore issues that interest me.
I have met others who have a love/hate relationship with their editors, but I have been blessed and give mine credit for guiding me to this point, when I am finally ready to start putting my work to an even bigger field, and finishing up my first book. Great thanks to each and everyone of you, your support really does make a difference!
But growing up in rural Cape Breton, back 30 years ago, you did not meet many writers, and I certainly did not meet anyone who was a writer for a living. I left home to go off to college never thinking I could do anything with my writing, other than to keep a journal for my own outlet. Years went by, and I kept coming back to wondering if I could ever write and be able to share it. My boys were about 7 and 5 when I really started spending more time writing again, and my best friend, Tammy, and my ever supportive husband kept encouraging me to send some of my work some where, any where really. I think I finally caved when Tim asked me something like, "Why bother writing if you are never going to do anything with it?"
I sent a few column ideas to the local paper, The Reporter, and within a day or two I heard back from the editor, Jake Boudrot. I had my first writing job, and column with the paper, and my first editor in Jake. I will always be grateful for that job, it was the opportunity that I needed to start sharing, and receiving feedback. And in Cape Breton, I got lots of both, lol. If no one else ever thought I was a good writer, at least, I thought, Jake thought I was good enough to hire for his paper. It was an ego boost, and needed! I continued with the paper until after I moved to Fort McMurray.
But when I moved to Fort McMurray, the thought of looking for a writing job never crossed my mind. I had no degree, and I happily repeated that to anyone who asked why I wasn't writing. However, to get a house out here, I needed a job for the mortgage, and I applied and landed a job with the registry office. It was another job that I was grateful for, but I was not cut out for a customer service job where many days the customers were irate about one thing or another. After eight months or so, I gave my notice. Now here is where the story gets good.
On my very last day of work, just before Christmas I was helping the girls in the office work our way through another long line. We were locking the door, and I was just going to start closing my desk when a gentlemen came in and asked if he was too late to do a registration, it would be his last day to do it before the end of the month since we were closing over the holidays. I waved him over to my desk, and one of the girls said how he would be my last customer. "Oh really?", he asked, "I suppose you are going to site are you? " A few people had asked me what I was going to do next, and Tim and I had agreed that I would take something if it interested me, and otherwise we would once again adjust our lifestyles so I could be home with the kids full time again.
No, I answered, I had no job lined up yet, and I wasn't sure what to do. He lifted his head from signing his paper, and said, "Well, you are in Fort McMurray, if you could have any job you wanted and get paid for it, what would it be?" I paused a second before saying, "I would be a writer." I thought maybe he would laugh, or shake his head like so many others before had, and say something like, "Oh, why would you want to do that?" But instead he looked intently at me, and asked if I was serious. Well, yes, I was serious, but....I had no degree, I was not a writer.
The man asked if I had ever written anything, and I explained about my small column back home, and that I had lots of other "pieces" that I worked on for myself. And then I will never forget the next minute, when he took his card out of his black 3/4 length jacket and handed it to me. His name was Tim O'Rourke, and he was the publisher of the Fort McMurray Today, the only local daily newspaper. He told me to send him some of my work and he would hand it onto his editors. That was on December 21st, and it took me until December 27th to finally build enough courage to send him a few things. On December 29th, Mike Hall, my new editor called me and offered me my first full time job....as a paid writer! I had two editors at the Today, Mike, and Dan MacEachern, and I can easily say five and a half years later, that it was the best job I ever had, and I loved meeting everyone in the community and writing about their stories. And I can also say that Dan and Mike taught me more working with them that I had learned in many, many years. I was so eager to not mess up or disappoint them that I would bring the CP style book home from the office to learn where to put my commas and how to use my quotation marks. Mike was like a walking encyclopedia, and we had fascinating conversations about life in Alberta, politics, and his beloved Fort McMurray. Dan took the time when I needed it to talk about an idea for a story, or advice on how to deliver a story in the best way possible. I felt blessed, it was like I had rich resources in the room with me every day. I am sad to say that Mike passed away, and Dan moved back East, but their influence was greater than either of them probably ever realized.
And then we had life interrupt again, I had health issues, and then we adopted our little girl, and she had health problems, so I once again decided to be home as a full time mom. But I worked with more wonderful editors from home for the Chronicle Herald and the Cape Breton Post, and kept writing at least a little bit every week. But after three and a half years, I found that I had the itch to get back into the game and start writing locally again. I sent an email to the editor at the Today, Jessica McIntosh, wondering if there was anything available at the paper. And again, fate or timing, or whatever you want to call it was on my side. They were changing over the website to a new format, and were looking for some community bloggers or writers, and after a meeting with the publisher, Mary-Ann Kostiuk, I was back to "work". They have been wonderfully supportive as I find my voice again and explore issues that interest me.
I have met others who have a love/hate relationship with their editors, but I have been blessed and give mine credit for guiding me to this point, when I am finally ready to start putting my work to an even bigger field, and finishing up my first book. Great thanks to each and everyone of you, your support really does make a difference!
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