What’s New?

Many people know that I have had a rough couple of months. I quit my gig at Bibo, began a new position downtown which turned out not to exist, relied on the kindness of friends to get me through it all and landed safely (finally) at Sherbrooke Liquor this past week.

It’s been a roller-coaster and I’ve been hanging on for dear life, getting through it all by the skin of my teeth. I’m used to that though. I’ve been a single mother for the last ten years and have made an art of living from pay-cheque to pay-cheque. It had only been in the last year though that I had actually begun to build a savings account – a rainy day fund if you will. Which was a good thing because it helped pay the rent when my supposed new employer did not employ me. That stung a bit. I guess I was feeling a bit too proud of myself for starting to build that cushion that many people take for granted. I was starting to be able to do little extra things that had eluded me in the past and to have that rug pulled out from underneath was frustrating to say the least.

I’ve been helping out when needed (and when not really needed!) at Color de Vino on Whyte Ave. It’s a great little specialty wine store with amazing prices AND great service. Juanita and Kelsey and their crew do a wonderful job at the store and have been exceptionally great friends to me in my time of need. My bff in Ontario has been a god-send as have several wine people and friends who have invited me out to lunch, dinner and fabulous tastings just because. It’s been an eye-opening autumn and I am reminded again and again how to count my blessings.

Job hunting, as some of you may know, can be exciting, demoralizing and self-affirming all in the same day. Many resumes have been sent, tips from friends followed up and sure things have fallen through. After my first interview at Sherbrooke I think I knew. I had other interviews that week but I couldn’t stop thinking about the Sherbrooke team. They were excited to work with me and there are many benefits to working with them. I had no idea that they were such great employers and I couldn’t stop imagining what it might be like to work there.

So, once all the i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed, I found myself on a management getaway in Banff for three days! You have to admit, that’s a pretty good place to start. I discovered how important staff and training are to this group and helped develop their Service vision. I made a great first impression by trying to pretend I could tolerate coffee and a big breakfast first thing in the morning resulting in me vomiting most of the first day away. (sigh) But even that could not deter them!

I started training this week with Cape Breton Island gal Char who is one of the creators true gifts. She’s been kind, tough and patient and has put up with my incessant note taking all week, guiding me to the right answers when I’ve forgotten which way to turn. I have another week of training next week and then I will be managing guest experiences on a day-to-day basis. This is a position in which I hope to excel. Every day I’ve been excited to go to work and come home fulfilled because there is so much to learn, so many people to meet and such an immense selection of products to discover.

The job hunt is over. The dubious summer of doubt has ended and I walk into the Autumn of Awesomeness with my heart full of gratitude for the friends that have lifted me up and hope that the upcoming chapters of my life are going to be interesting, inspiring and fun.