I am not a cat person

Email to Kevin, from Haley; March 11, 2011

I think Wednesday is usually my busiest day in the office because we’re at full staff and everyone always has loads of questions for me… but Friday is my day to clean up and finish up everything for the week and I can often get a couple normal days worth of work done as there’s hardly anyone around. Last year I only worked 0.9 (a day off every other week), and this year I dropped my hours to 0.8. I got really quick at everything I needed to do, and there just wasn’t enough to keep me busy. I love working Tuesday – Friday. Long weekend every week! Nick likes it too, because he doesn’t have to come with me to Costco now :)

Sometimes I bring Lucy to work with me. She loves it. She loves licking everyone she meets…but then gets tired and just sleeps in my office the rest of the day. I think my co-workers like having her around. She’s definitely ‘my’ dog. The summer we got her I was looking for a job and so bonded with her 24-7 for the first few weeks.

We always had a dog when I was growing up. We started with Blue, the blue-heeler. My parents rescued her from a ditch as a puppy, and she was very old, blind and grumpy when I came along. I think she died when I was 5 or 6. Then we got Barney, he was a terrier-poodle cross. He was my Mom’s dog, no doubt. I just always loved having dogs around. (I am not a cat person – my Grandma had cats, and I always disliked them. They were never friendly enough for me!)

My parents are awesome. They make an effort to visit us often, they did even when they weren’t retired. They are pretty active volunteers. My Dad runs a community policing branch of the RCMP, does hosting at the airport, and they both work with the ‘adopt a senior’ program from their church. They drive them to medical appointments and help do handy-man things around the house. I thought retiring would give them a rest, but they haven’t really slowed down. They were elementary school teachers. My Dad taught grade 6, and then grade 5. My Mom taught part-time, first kindergarten then grade 1. I therefore excelled in school; hard not to when you’re surrounded by teachers (all their friends were teachers too!). I often had people say, “Are you going to be a teacher when you grow up?” and I adamantly said “no way!” Even though I do have a bit of ‘teacher’ gene in me, I never really wanted to be in a room full of kids for extended periods of time.

I do want my parent’s blessing before I say anything more, but I certainly want to get to know you all! Even though I have been so blessed to have even these short little emails back and forth…I do want more. I’d love to try Skype and a real visit sometime too.

Blessings, Haley
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I think I finally got to the point where I'm ok with sharing more about my life. I can sense that apprehension lifting off, and I'm just feeling like I'm getting to know someone. It's a good place to be.

I still haven't been able to share with my parents! It's driving me crazy! Soon, soon, I know. It's not for lack of trying, I might add.

I really want to meet Kevin in person, even if it's just on Skype. Email can only tide anyone over for so long. It is no substitute for real life interaction, and I'm saying that as a social media junkie!