Things happen for a reason

Good morning. I'm certain I'm an anomaly, but I happen to like cloudy days. Not sure why. Perhaps it's because I love my fireplace and I like to feel cozy and warm on days like today. It's possible I'd do well on the west coast, but I love Alberta way too much to probably ever leave.

Like all of you, I find the daily onslaught of bad news about our economy dreadful. This morning, I heard that 58,000 people in Alberta are currently looking for a job. I personally know several men who are trying to find work.

I'm obviously not an analyst, however in my humble opinion I believe this is our 'new normal' for the foreseeable future. Based on the latest report from OPEC, I honestly don't see things changing anytime soon. A friend of mind recently labelled the situation in Alberta as the 'perfect storm'.

I lost my radio job with K-97 back in 1997. At the time I was earning a huge salary as morning show co-host and news director. It was that 'huge salary' by the way that cost me my job. Anyway, it just so happened that at that time, my Mother was dying of brain cancer.

Was I devastated? Absolutely. I'd never been out of work before. I wasn't destitute as I had always been a saver. I was however extremely worried and scared. I was also grief stricken over my Mother's situation.

What I didn't realize at the time was that because I was laid off, I got to spend the last 4 months of my Mom's life with her. Had I been working, that would have been impossible. I now treasure those days. They were obviously very difficult, BUT it was exactly where I needed to be.

I was with Mom as she took her final breaths and left this world. I got to be with my family as we planned her funeral. I was able to do the Eulogy, which to this day, I believe was my best ever. I got to visit with family and friends as everyone came to mourn with us. After the funeral, I was able to stay with and visit my Dad regularly. ALL because I was out of a job.

I eventually bought my own business because I wasn't able to find work in radio. Shortly thereafter, I ended up back at CFCW where I had initially started my radio career. It's also where I ended my career, last year, 35 years later after I had begun.

I believe things happen for a reason. You certainly know what I've been through the last 20 months, and I now know 'it' also happened for a reason. Accepting that really does help deal with the day to day agony as you endeavour to make 'headway in the storm'.

This storm as ALL others, ALL OTHERS........will pass.