If I was a woman and I just found out I was pregnant the day I started here in Barrhead, I would be just about ready to pop.
That’s my unconventional way of saying it’s been nine months since I took over as the editor here at the Barrhead Leader.
And that’s also a metaphor in some form for what is next in my life as I write my last column for you all to read.
Yes, you read, and hopefully interpreted that, correctly — I’m leaving the Leader to move on to … another place.
It’s been quite the interesting time I spent here.
Since the early days at the end of August 2011, I’ve travelled to many places I’d never seen before.
Fort Assiniboine being the first. On my second weekend here, I headed up there for a trail ride. I’ve been up there many, many times since, and each one comes with a different experience.
Then there’s Darwell. True, it’s not in the county (neither is Fort Assiniboine, for that matter), but when things are happening, you have to be there.
Or Sangudo. Another trip down to Lac Ste. Anne County, this time to take in a ceremony recognizing an old school since partly demolished and repurposed. The stories you hear from people who have lived their lives in rural communities.
There was also that time I went to Onoway for a meeting about a proposed gravel pit. Being a city boy myself, I never understood any of the hubbub about gravel. Apparently it’s a big deal, and more important than I ever imagined.
Of course, there are all the people I’ve met here. The teachers and principals at the schools all over the area – BCHS, BES, Dunstable, Fort Assiniboine and Neerlandia – have all shown their charms and openness in one way or another.
Plus, seeing children learn about the world is something that sticks with me. I personally enjoyed (most) of my time while I was a student all through elementary school, high school and university, and to see kids enjoying their time means the future is not as doomed as my cynical mind says it is.
I also had the chance to finally try curling this winter. I knew it was harder than it looks, and it is. But it’s not quite as hard as I thought. From what I can tell, the biggest thing about learning the sport is getting your weight just right. I think I improved at that.
As I leave I feel I should thank the people who gave me the push to move on to the next step in my career. Your words, both spoken and written, will never be forgotten, and I will carry them with me wherever I go. Without you, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
So, thank you all for welcoming me into your community, and letting me into your lives. It’s been a treat, and I hope you feel the same.
