I spent this weekend enjoyably with several people I was never supposed to be friends with.
As a federal public servant my obvious masters are the political ones who would like it very much if we (civil servants) could stay very clinically detached from our stakeholders. But in Environment (and I'm sure this must happen in other areas too but I think it's very strong in areas like Environment) you meet people who are so passionate about their work, and not in an egotistical way, where it truly is about their love for the planet, the science and technology and innovation that can be used to save it, and their drive for integrity in their problem solving. It is hard not to fall in love with them, to feel a kindred sense of purpose, to be inspired at their dedication. I spent Sunday evening with people who are stakeholders in the program I am have been slaving away at for three years. I've spent a lot of time talking ideas, hearing their concerns, sharing stories with them, and feel painfully aware of the void I will have in my life as I wander out of the circle of influence. I'm not worried they will forget me, or that we will have nothing in common as I turn a corner (ha - that one is for you Karen)., more I worry that I will want to talk to them, want to share more of it with them, and they will be out of reach. (yes I know there is email etc, but I'm really a face to face kind of person - technology doesn't really cut it for me). They are as much my family as my real family are.
Saturday night was spent with a bunch of young men (yes Don, you can count as a young man for the purpose - I'm taking a bit of artistic license). Now don't get any ideas. Yes these are the same men who used to bruise me regularly when I saw them. I know I'm not making the image any better am I? :) I was out with my friends from karate, some of whom I haven't seen in awhile and I became painfully aware of how much I had missed seeing them (see previous paragraph comment about being a face to face person). I feel like God has been slowly weaning me off karate and my friends from there so it isn't so painful at the end. I'd spend hours talking to Fred about fighting at work, and he taught nearly ever class I was in for over a year. And Colton, hours on MSN talking about all sorts of stuff. These boys are half my age but closer friends than I've made in a long while. Plus Don, Alex, (and others from Bergeron who weren't present), will leave a big hole, that's hard to fill.
I've been deeply blessed moving here to Ottawa and meeting all these people who have inspired me in so many different ways and who I care about so much. It seems ironic to me that I am finally in a place where I've met people I don't want to leave behind - a first for me - I'm usually so busy looking forward, to what's next, that it never occurs to me that I could miss someone. Must be getting sentimental in my old age...
As a federal public servant my obvious masters are the political ones who would like it very much if we (civil servants) could stay very clinically detached from our stakeholders. But in Environment (and I'm sure this must happen in other areas too but I think it's very strong in areas like Environment) you meet people who are so passionate about their work, and not in an egotistical way, where it truly is about their love for the planet, the science and technology and innovation that can be used to save it, and their drive for integrity in their problem solving. It is hard not to fall in love with them, to feel a kindred sense of purpose, to be inspired at their dedication. I spent Sunday evening with people who are stakeholders in the program I am have been slaving away at for three years. I've spent a lot of time talking ideas, hearing their concerns, sharing stories with them, and feel painfully aware of the void I will have in my life as I wander out of the circle of influence. I'm not worried they will forget me, or that we will have nothing in common as I turn a corner (ha - that one is for you Karen)., more I worry that I will want to talk to them, want to share more of it with them, and they will be out of reach. (yes I know there is email etc, but I'm really a face to face kind of person - technology doesn't really cut it for me). They are as much my family as my real family are.
Saturday night was spent with a bunch of young men (yes Don, you can count as a young man for the purpose - I'm taking a bit of artistic license). Now don't get any ideas. Yes these are the same men who used to bruise me regularly when I saw them. I know I'm not making the image any better am I? :) I was out with my friends from karate, some of whom I haven't seen in awhile and I became painfully aware of how much I had missed seeing them (see previous paragraph comment about being a face to face person). I feel like God has been slowly weaning me off karate and my friends from there so it isn't so painful at the end. I'd spend hours talking to Fred about fighting at work, and he taught nearly ever class I was in for over a year. And Colton, hours on MSN talking about all sorts of stuff. These boys are half my age but closer friends than I've made in a long while. Plus Don, Alex, (and others from Bergeron who weren't present), will leave a big hole, that's hard to fill.
I've been deeply blessed moving here to Ottawa and meeting all these people who have inspired me in so many different ways and who I care about so much. It seems ironic to me that I am finally in a place where I've met people I don't want to leave behind - a first for me - I'm usually so busy looking forward, to what's next, that it never occurs to me that I could miss someone. Must be getting sentimental in my old age...
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