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First things first; a love story.

January 6, 2009 By 20 Comments

Having a job that requires me to provide one on one support clients with mental illnesses, I must listen to others stories and problems and woes all day long, all the while encouraging them and recognizing their strengths and positive attributes. This seems to come easily to me, and does not often bother me as I adore hearing people’s stories. “What’s your story?” is a question I love to ask, but dread being asked. That dread is something I am working on, and I think it has a lot to do with the the fact that the sole reason I am in Calgary is because I followed my heart out here. I hate to say, but in the history of my current relationship it has always been me that has done the occassionally immature running away, the leaving. Tim has been the most patient, loving boyfriend over the past three years that a young woman could ever have, and when I found out there was a possibility of him moving elsewhere, it was a no-brainer for me. I am lucky to share a home and a heart with Tim, who has consistently gone way out of his way to ensure that the two of us take advantage of each and every opportunity that comes our way, to have as much fun and as much love as two people could possibly have.

The first time I brought the name Tim into the FB household, my Mom could tell right away that I was “smitten.” Tim wasn’t like any of the other guys I had dated (read: he was intelligent and sane). It may have taken this proper, traditional boy a few months, a lot of hints and even a pretty obvious kiss to actually get around to asking me out, but once he did we were inseparable. Still are, really.

Alternatively, my favourite part of our story is spending our first summer together, apart. We planned for that first summer together to be perfect, with lazy nights by the fire, driving for hours to see each other, doing anything for that person; but for some crazy reason Mom convinced me to take a job that involved me moving way North to a fishing lodge on an island in a town called Nakina – a full days drive from Tim and all things related to home. Tim and I had only been dating four months at that point, and most people would say “So what?” to a four month relationship – but it was always special with Tim and I. We both knew that the both of us were in it for the long haul, and we had that summer planned out perfectly … but it wouldn’t be that way after all. I left in May for four months, and as I packed and talked to my new bosses, I was learning more and more about this fishing lodge. I wasn’t sure how to break it to Tim that there was no internet. Or regular use of a phone. I could use a “party line” (shared phone line between a bunch of lodges) for about 15 minutes a week – but I wasn’t sure how that was going to fly with him. The week before I left, Tim worked hard to ensure that I wouldn’t forget about him – gifts, homemade meals, reminders of our time together and promises of letters all summer long.

Which brings me to the point of my story – The Love Letters. Ooooh, the Love letters. The love letters. The love letters. Three words I can repeat over and over to myself in my head and never get bored of them. Tim promised to write me letters all summer long, a promise he kept over and over and over again. At this point of the story, people who know Tim and I are usually like … Tim wrote you love letters? Like, good ole’ fashioned love letters, not e-mails? Tim the studious, dutch, concrete-construction working farmer knows how to write love letters? I know, not your typical candidate for being very romantically inclined, but I have a box full of letters, every word of which I will cherish forever. Even if in the future if Tim and I aren’t together, I will keep those letters as a reminder of how much expressible love was possible from a man to a woman. And every night shift he works when I am home alone, and questioning to myself why I am putting myself through the loneliness I pull out a letter. Each letter started off with the same simple phrase

“First things first…”

It is meant to be followed with “I love you” but by the end of the summer the last half wasn’t even necessary. It is simply an example of the knowledge of what it so important in maintaining a long distance relationship – the affirmation of undying love, the knowledge that the other persons feelings and emotions always come first.

 

Filed Under: Calgary, love, relationships, summer work Tagged With:

Brushes with Fame

May 22, 2008 By 11 Comments

I would not consider myself very star-struck, although I do read Perez Hilton religiously. Mostly I am just interested in people, celebrities or not, hence the psychology major. But I’ve had a few brushes with fame in my life that I am going to share.

1. In Vancouver, I worked at a restaurant that was upscale and beautiful and right on the harbour in Yaletown, so it attracted a lot of celebrities. I was a hostess so I was in charge of greeting people and figuring out the seating charts. Michael Buble was a regular, lived in the area and had gotten to know many of the servers there, and he came in one day so I sat him and his girlfriend, Emily Blunt. He was carrying an envelope that said “Michael Buble” in huge letters so in case anyone that saw him was having any doubts… haha. They were both super friendly but it annoyed me that he was talking on his cell phone during the ENTIRE meal. Maybe he was really busy, but if that was my boyfriend it would definitely have annoyed me. Luckily Kent doesn’t have a cell phone so I get his full attention. They stayed for about 15 minutes, whereas generally people stayed for about 1 – 1 1/2 hours for lunch. They dashed out after saying goodbye to me and telling me their meal was “super.”

2. Sarah McLauchlan also lived in Yaletown, Vancouver. It was an exceptionally nice day and not rainy which is rare for spring in Vancouver, so everyone wanted to sit on the patio that day. There were strict strict rules at the restaurant that groups of 2 sit at tables for 2 and 3-4 sit at tables for 4. Sarah (I didn’t know it was her though) came in, pregnant, with a friend. I sat them at a table for two and her friend asked if they could sit at a four top instead. I was a bit hesitant but I figured that Sarah was pregnant, so that counts as three people. Her friend noticed I was hesitant and said rudely “UMMMM Do you know WHO SHE IS???” I said (probably equally as rudely but mostly not really caring) “No.” She even said that AFTER I gave them the table they wanted! Seriously now. Later someone told me who she was… Although I have to say that it was her friend that was the rude one, not Sarah. So keep listening to her music and maybe even buying it if you want, but I just think that she should be careful of the company she keeps. This friend probably isn’t very much fun anyways!

3. I worked at an upscale resort in Algonquin Park, Ontario, one summer called Arowhon Pines. This was also a place where many celebrities liked to go, Sarah Polley was there that summer too, she is super cool… although definitely very frumpy in person. Kent and I ate dinner in the guest dining hall one night (we won it because he had the best halloween costume.. which by the way I made!) while she was there. Jim Creegan, the bassist for the Barenaked Ladies, also stayed there that summer. Actually he had gotten married there a few summers earlier and goes there every summer. Along with being an office worker, house keeper and server, I was a part time babysitter. Jim and his wife came with a bunch of family, so I babysat some of their nieces and nephews, and their son, Finn. He was about two and before I babysat him for the first time, his parents told me that he has never been away from them before and would probably cry and if he did then I could call them away from dinner. Sure enough, after about 10 minutes he started crying for mommy and daddy and he was so hysterical that I had to call them. Jim came down and hung out with us and we read stories to Finn and stuff. He is seriously the nicest guy ever and would always make up songs with my name in them every time he saw me around camp… like cleaning his family’s cabin and checking his family in when they came in for breakfast and serving them food.. so pretty much all the time! So basically the routine with Finn crying, Jim or his wife coming down from dinner and hanging out with us would happen every day for the whole week that they were there… but I did try! They told me I was helping to get Finn ready for day care in September. All I can say is GOOD LUCK to those day care teachers! Luckily he is so cute that any hysterics can be easily forgiven. Or maybe I’m just biased because with his blonde curls he is exactly what my children will look like someday. Kent loves the Barenaked Ladies and has seen them in concert three times so I introduced him. We had just started dating so it totally won me some points!!

5. Kent just told me the celebrities that he has met: Tie Domi, Don Cherry, Kelly Hrudey, Steven Page from the Barenaked Ladies, and Ron McLean. Most are sports stars… I mean if you’re into that… Just kidding, it’s cool (I guess).

4. Kent’s family are friends with Autumn Kelly‘s family, the Canadian girl that just married a prince, Peter Philip! He is Princess Anne’s son and is a grandson of the queen, and cousins with William and Harry. I bought Hello Magazine today which has a 55 page article about the royal wedding! I definitely suggest you read it. Here she is with her new husband:

Pretty cool! I have a feeling I am going to be obsessed with this couple…

Let me know about your claims to fame!!

Filed Under: micaela, summer work, thoughts Tagged With: , , ,

Update on Life!

April 24, 2008 By 8 Comments

Hey all, it’s Lauren. I’m taking a break from studying for my last 2 exams of first year! I’m pretty sure Carleton has some of the latest exams EVER-example- my last two are on Monday, and Leah had her last one on April 11. Almost 2 weeks ago! However the smell of summer is in the air here in Ottawa. People are walking outside, enjoying the Parliament buildings (which I should probably do one of these days…), tanning on the grass on campus, and there is rushing water in the river on campus! It’s so exciting to almost be done first year. It seems like just yesterday I was planning on going out west, and not even going to university yet! I’m definitely glad I chose to come to such a beautiful city though. I’ve had so many great life experiences, and made amazing new friends, who I’ll never forget.

 

You know how in movies at university you see circles of people on the grass studying? I never thought I’d see that in real life, but last week as I was walking to an exam with a friend we kept seeing all these circles of people studying, and the first thing she said was “Lauren! It’s like the movies!” It’s so true! Like in an ad for a university:

 

studying

 

This summer I plan on working the same place I worked last summer, at a Conservation Area outside of our town. I also got my SmartServe in January, so I want to get a job serving, maybe at our local golf and ski club, where some of us work in the winter also.

 

Do you remember when you were done your first year?

 

Ps. Some of you may have heard about the girl(Nadia Kajouji) from Carleton who had gone missing (article found here). She has been found this past weekend (article found here). I didn’t know her, but a friend of mine did, and I wish her family the best. There has been tons of action to ensure that this doesn’t happen again here in our community.

Filed Under: ottawa, summer, summer work, university