Career choices - if we embraced childhood dreams

As a child, I enjoyed digging in the dirt and playing outdoors. 

Do you share memories of wearing rubber boots, digging channels and redirecting rivers around your muddy cities - all the while oblivious to the spring rain? 

Do you remember building sand castles on the beach only to see them topple minutes later into the approaching waves?

Do you share a fascination with King Tut treasures, burying  boxes of trinkets in a garden corner, dreaming that some future civilization would discover them?

Of the many possible career choices, I wonder if I could have made it as a city planner or an archeologist.  For the latter, I admire the persistence and physical endurance that the job requires.  You would get to travel around the world, be part of a team immersed in the local dirt.  You definitely wouldn't be sitting on your butt all day!

You get to share the excitement of discovering ancient graves ... under a parking lot.  Sorry - in Edinburgh they call it a "car park". 
 

 


This is exciting for someone who enjoys the history and mystery of the middle ages.  The only treasured discoveries for me lately have been due to visits from family bearing heirlooms. 

Since being an apartment dweller, I no longer have a small back yard garden where I can dig, grow or ... bury things. I have to satisfy my green thumb tendencies by puttering with the potted plants inside.  All we need are some colourful, flowering varieties.   

In the meantime, I can make plans with family and friends to visit places around the Ottawa Valley where we can enjoy natural gardening sites and annual festivals of bloom.  All this without getting dirty!

 
If you are curious about things that turn up in the spring, visit the blog for The Year of the Rabbit where my nom de plume  invites people to dig a little deeper.  She has dabbled in the mysteries of creative writing.  

Thanks for dropping by.

T

Checkups and Journeys

When things get stressful, I listen to classical music to drown out distractions and annoyances so I can concentrate on the task at hand, to stay in the moment.  

At times I will permit myself to dream of exotic destinations, far away places and handsome, reassuring faces. 

Being a proactive dreamer during a recent financial checkup, I set things in motion by starting a "Travel" savings plan with my account manager.  She supported my plans to explore different parts of Canada, the Americas and Mediterranean within the next five years. Surely by then, my young folk will have tested their wings sufficiently and have left the nest.  

By that time, I hope greedy, inconsiderate humans haven't poisoned our planet, our Mother Earth beyond recovery.  I also have hope that radical testosterone levels have subsided so it will be safe to travel to places like Europe and Egypt; to see the architecture, pyramids, the Nile and the great library of Alexandria.  

Maybe by then I can afford one of those consumer space trips and get half-way to the moon?  Fly me to the moon...

Okay… back to reality in my safe little corner of the world. 

As for vacation this summer, I only took one day and worked straight through the rest - except for weekends.  We should thank unions of the past for those.  I do not work in a unionized industry yet offer a shout out to federal public servants who are experiencing yet more job cuts. People need jobs - especially angry, idle young men.

I did not mind working the entire summer since we had a big IT project planned and knew that most users would be taking vacation.  Also, the office has AC so that it made for a comfortable working environment during another stinky, humid Ottawa Valley summer. 

Once the digital dust settled after the technology cut-over, I took time to recover my sanity, to attend to some personal and family issues.  I also made time for a routine medical checkup and consultation.  

During a previous visit with the good doctor, I had asked him what exactly was that scenic colour printout on the ceiling tile above the examination table.  He responded that it was a photograph of a golf course in the UK. 

"How nice," I thought but didn't press him for reasons WHY this or similar images were pinned above the examination tables in all the rooms in his office.  

When I saw it again during my recent checkup, I wondered if it was posted there for benefit of his patients, to keep the ladies calm during probing sessions - or was it there for the benefit of the doctor?  

I put myself in his shoes, thinking about how many baby bulges and lady parts he encounters every day.  I can picture him occasionally looking up to admire the greenness and calm of the golf course on the ceiling and thinking, "Just twenty more of these examinations and I can have that dream vacation…"
 
This brings me to the word "Backpack" I scrawled on a large postit and pinned above my computer workstation a couple of years ago.  

When certain technological "advances" are causing me grief or I struggle to maintain a professional demeanor, I look up and smile at that little sign, that reminder and encouraging word.

Backpack.  

A backpack is a thing you pack for a short or long journey.  Whether it's a physical journey or an emotional one, you get to decide what goes in and how much you are willing to bear.

Backpack. 
 
Aside from the visual and cardiovascular stimulation of watching George Clooney in "Up in the Air", where I first encountered the meaning of word, the phrase "What's in your backpack?", it has for years provided a reminder of where I am (and why); and where I want to be (and when).

In a few weeks, I will once again travel to visit family members.  For this journey, I would really like to take an airplane.  I need to push the limits of my comfort zone, to spread my wings.

Although it has been many years since I have flown, I'll be up in the air and receptive to meeting a charming, salt and pepper haired gentleman.  Ah, George.... If he doesn't materialize, I'll listen to music, read a good book or look out the windows to admire the autumn colours below. 

Yes, indeed.  It will be a good opportunity to relax and appreciate just being in the moment, enjoying the journey and looking forward to the destination.

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I am tickled pink that you have read this far!  If you like my writing style, you will enjoy "The Year of the Rabbit - a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness".  I recently celebrated the one year anniversary of the eBook version's release.  Smashword customers get to set the purchase price.  Do drop by.

T

Travelling Light

For the third time in a less than a month, I will be travelling and sleeping in a different bed.  

This is not typical of a home body dealing with residual anxieties from PTSD.  It's a gradual process. I'm taking small steps to prepare myself for a future trip across Canada and eventually... parts of the Mediterranean and North Africa. 

The first time was a complimentary two-night stay in a local hotel.  It was a lovely experience, sleeping in a king sized bed with six pillows.  SIX pillows! I was swimming in pillows and stretching my boundaries after the past eleven months of sleeping in a twin bed - at times shared with a cat waiting for breakfast.  The twin bed was a brilliant idea, the result of downsizing from a queen prior to our move last year.  

The hotel was a short walk to the workplace where I arrived early and somewhat refreshed on the following mornings. Let's just say that the second night was more restful than the first.  The stay was good practice with packing a bag, making healthy takeout dinner choices and leaving my young people to tend to their own needs and those of the resident felines. 

The second experience was a two-day trip out of town to visit family.  Of course, I took the train and once again made priorities with my packing list.  The two gift bottles of wine on the way there added a lot of weight.  I brought a different, artistically altered bottle back with me, wrapped with care in bubble paper and cushioned by bags of dirty laundry.  The double bed was perfectly padded for two excellent, cool nights of slumber.  Except for what I think was my stomach's reaction to too much cilantro, it was a lovely visit.  

This next trip will be a little farther away, for professional development purposes and with a slightly longer train ride.  That's okay.  I have a lot of reading to catch up with; one book related to inner journeys and another related to a professional goal. 

This packing list will be different, including comfortable outfits that look professional; shoes that won't hurt my feet while touring vendor exhibits and networking with people.  What about sandals?  Should I pack a pair in case I want to get outside for a stroll, air out my toes and appreciate that recent pedicure?  Vanity alert. 

I recall a previous trip and movie with tips offered by George Clooney's character Ryan Bingham, a corporate axeman and business travel author.  His preferred method was by passenger jet.  Hence the movie's title of Up in the Air.  

Besides my gaga appreciation of George Clooney's acting abilities, I liked the title of the fictitious book "What's in Your Backpack?".  It reminds me to reconsider the material and emotional baggage that I let weigh me down.  

Some times there are things, stressors and people that you have to leave behind as you continue your life journey.

Links for packing tips:

• Canada By Train - The Complete VIA Rail Travel Guide http://www.wayoftherail.com/catalog/canada-by-train/
• Virtual Tourist
  http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/Canada/Packing_Lists-Canada-TG-C-1.html 
• Trip Advisor - Business Travel Forum http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g1-i12407-k4440624-Any_Packing_Tips-Business_Travel.html

I am tickled pink that you have read this far.  If you like my writing style, trains, wine and romance, you may enjoy reading The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about fate, family and forgiveness.  Get your Mom a copy of the Ebook for 99 cents.  Offer ends midnight on Sunday. 

T

Young Adult Fiction and Romantic Delusions

I watched the movie "Young Adult" with my young adult residents on RoD last night. It wasn't as funny as we thought it would be, based on the previews. It was actually quite serious - about a 37 year old woman who is depressed and bordering on alcoholism (plus she's a writer -  go figure!). 

She goes back to her home town to try and win back her ex-boyfriend, to rekindle an old flame.  Of course she's delusional since he's happily married to a wonderful woman with whom he has parented a baby.

I think it's a good story with fair warnings about mental health, addictions, misunderstanding what is "happiness".  The character goes through great pains to make herself aesthetically attractive on the outside but man! does she have a lot of work to do on the inside.  She's one delusional, crazy prom queen!

Young Adult

2011 Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.

Details at:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1625346/

As a writer and published author, I found a couple of scenes touched me personally:

1. At least twice, Mavis makes a point of correcting people adding that she is an "Author" after they compliment or mention her status as a "Writer".  (the nerve!)
2. In the home town book store, Mavis is offended when the clerk informs her that the series of Young Adult books for which she ghost writes is on the clearance table.  She loses it when he informs her that the books will have no value if autographed and the store has to return them to the publisher.  (Ouch!)

My novel The Year of the Rabbit contains many themes and one of them is the desire to put things back the way they were.  In many cases, life does not allow us that option.  In one case, all it takes is the encouragement and unexpected wisdom of an 11 year-old girl.

The Year of the Rabbit is published as an Ebook with Smashwords where authors can decide if or what discounts can be applied to the sales.  I can't autograph it for people but can offer a taste of reader comments and a 20% free download.   

Please note:  This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

To close the loop of this post with the subject of "old flames", I recently received a Facebook friend request from someone I knew as a kissable boy in my home town.  I responded with a message acknowledging that many years have passed and… a request to see a profile picture before I approve the connection.  I'm curious, not shallow :o)

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Thank you for reading this far.  If you like my writing style, explore other posts in this blog and the many posts in the blog for my novel The Year of the Rabbit.

T

Nostalgia from the Large Print Aisle

It was the winter of 1985.  Due to being in the right place at the right time, I scored a  work term at a small town Public Library.  Those were fun, promising days.  I was able to use my creativity, satisfy a sense of order and learn what it was like to corral and calm energetic children during story time.  I also had a sweetheart who made my heart thump and my knees wobble.  Good, tender memories. 

I am not sure if the sense of order came before or after working in the library.  What I am sure of is the enjoyment I had touching, skimming and sorting those books.  The library brought in the local news paper to photograph the three of us participating in the government-funded program. 

Holding a pile of large print books and smiling coyly for the camera.

Although I enjoyed that work term, I did not pursue a career in library sciences since I heard that it would take years of college and the pay was not great.  I did not have the patience, money nor deep enough love to commit to that dream.  I was still not sure what I wanted to be when I grew up!  I later scored a retail job at our local Canadian Tire (Yay!) and box office night work at our local Cinema.  

I eventually saved up money, joined my sweetheart in Ottawa and continued working retail.  Working in "the big city" was a cold disappointment compared to the relaxed pace of a small town.  After a couple of weeks I registered for a word processing course (when a word processor was an actual computer!) and aimed for office work instead.  


A few months later, good Karma - and possibly a pinch of good work ethic from my stint as an office temp - presented me with more opportunities.  The Information Services department in a small organization created an Administrative Support position for me.  I used this thing called a dumb terminal that connected to this thing called a VAX.  I learned about computer operations, how to run batch jobs, perform backups and apply user permissions using ACLs.  I learned how to use a wonderful word processor called "Word-11" before it and other decent products were crowded out by aggressive brands offering WYSIWYG features - on a new piece of hardware with a new operating $ystem, of course.


Even with those windows of opportunity in the working world, dreams of a future with my sweetheart soon faded to black. I distracted my loneliness by making new friends and taking more courses.  I read to escape the pain.

My work life evolved in the exciting world of Information Technology.  In the blur of that late-1980s existence, I soon married a seemingly wonderful man and subsequently co-created three beautiful children. 

IT work provided plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and attend courses.  I became immersed in the world wide web, electronic mail then online collaboration tools. My aptitude and creativity were recognized and nurtured by a succession of superiors.  The pay has helped me as an eventual single parent.  I have been a valued contributor to the objectives of my work family.

I am toying with the idea of owning a cell phone (yes, I'm one of those hold-outs) or committing to a smart phone with Internet access.  I still cannot justify the cost and possible distractions.  Those small screens do not appeal to my reading preferences.  I have come to realize that my electronic skills, my love of pen & paper and appreciation of the QWERTY keyboard for creative writing will soon be augmented by the pinching, stroking and zooming techniques of a tablet. (A-hem... my birthday is coming up this month.  Nudge, nudge.)


In June my oldest child graduated from university (insert warm, gushy feeling).  I satisfied her gift request by purchasing an Amazon Kindle.  This device can "hold" thousands of public domain books.  This seemed perfect since she is an avid reader and loves the classics.  At least that is a small consolation as I lament the future of the printed word and methods we choose for publishing, writing and reading. 


Regardless of the potential for massive data storage and oodles of options for reading devices, I still enjoy the tangible book.  I like holding it, dog-earing special sections - gasp! - and - the horror! - writing notes in the margins.  Not that I would do this in books I borrow from the library but I find it interesting to see scrawls from previous clients.

Perhaps you do too? 


T


Thanks for reading this far.  If you like my writing style, consume some excerpts from my novel "The Year of the Rabbit".  Sera Fletcher, the main character loved to read and volunteer in her library.  The library also served as a refuge from the loneliness of losing her best friend.