Well, that didn't take long.
Exactly 7 days was all my sister could manage.
It seems Aya did not take well to her new owner, or at least not as well as we had hoped that she would, and so Aya is comfortably and happily back home with me.
My sister will look after Aya for the 6 or 7 weeks that I am away, and I am quite certain that will be chock full of interesting tales, but I am also pretty happy with that.
It was only a week, but I missed the little bug.
Come next March-April I am going to have to revisit the whole new-home-for-Aya thing if I follow through with my travel plans, but until then we are both much happier with Aya being right here at home with me.
I know it's not completely uncommon, but the silly little critter loves playing fetch with me, constantly bringing me something to throw - when she's in the mood, of course.
So, life here at casa-Enberg is back as it should be, and all is once again right in my world.
Let me mention Friday - my retire-from-work day.
It started at St. Pius X High School where I was once again invited to speak to a class of grade 11 Law students. The announced reason for my being a guest speaker has always been the same over the past 8 years: "Joe is going to share with you his experiences with the legal system."
I have never failed to be unexpected. To give the kids more.
This time though, it was off the charts. I don't know if I went in with a different mind-set due to it being an already significant day in my life, or if it was simply the way it was supposed to be, but the engagement with those kids was so close, so life-to-life that it left me a little awestruck. And very, very grateful.
I spent most of my allotted speaking time encouraging this class of bright young future leaders to find someone to talk to.
About the dark places in their lives.
About the stuff they are not talking to anyone about.
And I used my past as the backdrop.
Alcoholism. Drug addiction. Criminal activity. Jails. Homelessness.
Heavy prices to pay for keeping the dark stuff a secret.
For being scared to name the monster - whatever it may look like.
I wish that I could somehow impart to you as you read this the feelings that I experienced as I saw that glimmer in her eye, or that pique of interest in his face as we engaged in a back and forth of question and answer.
I think I have found something that I am every bit as passionate about as I am about adventure motorcycle riding.
Sharing my story with our youth.
It was such an incredible way to start my last day of work, and I thank God for the continued opportunities.
I left St. Pius X at noon, feeling full and empty at the same time. Both invigorated and exhausted.
I drove to Shepherds, parked my car and knew as I was walking through the parking lot that it was going to be a short and emotional visit.
I spent the next hour making the rounds and saying so-long to the myriad people who have touched and impacted my life in that environment of mixed feelings and conflicting personas.
I will remember my days spent at the Shepherds of Good Hope for the rest of my life. Most of them, quite fondly.
I don't think you can ask for more than that.
Now, a final piece of housekeeping. I am going to be traveling a lot this summer and with my travels come all of the expected - and many unexpected experiences. Which, of course, I will be writing and blogging about.
The problem is, I am currently trying to keep two blogs current! And as you have noted over the years - I suck at it.
So - if I may ask - please make a note of my other blog on the ADVJOE website:
http://advjoe.ca/blog/
I will be keeping that one up-to-date on a regular basis as I travel, and I will be treating it as my blog, not just advjoe's blog. The type of stuff that I write here, I will be writing there. So if you are, for some unknown reason still following me here (and I really hope that you are, my faithful few), well, now you have somewhere else to follow me.
This is starting to sound like a Genesis song. . .(or the best Cineplex ad they have ever come up with - remember the one with the young girl, the snow man and the freezer?)
Ok. It is now the first Wednesday - I can no longer call it hump day - of the season of my contentment. I think that means I have to shower today,. . .or shave, . . or something . . .
Later folks,
