October was a great month - but it was also a really tough one for me.
The house ~ Bryce and I moved into our townhome which we love. We've been walking around the St. John's area and discovering all of the fun new places that have become a part of North Portland. Our new tradition is every Saturday we walk up to Ladybug Coffee that serves organic, shade grown coffee. After a cup of a coffee we walk one block over to grab a pastry at Tulips Bakery - My current favorite purchase there are their Marionberry Fritters...... delightful! Then Bryce and I usually walk through Cathedral Park and play with the many dogs that are always running around. It's so great to be back in that area........ last week I ran across the St. John's bridge and was overcome by how beautiful fall in Portland is. Behind me was downtown St. John's - alive and full of families running around and enjoying their Sunday mornings. Ahead of me I was running towards Forest Park - its trees vibrant with the fall colors. To my left I could see downtown Portland over the water - so peaceful and calm.
A new job ~ I just got a job in the School of Nursing at the University of Portland as an Office Support Specialist. This is a brand new position in the department and I'm really looking forward to being back on campus. UP has such a special place in my heart for so many reasons - I met my husband there, the faculty members that were my mentors when I was a student (and who I am fortunate enough to call my friends now), the experiences I had while I went to UP are ones that I treasure wholeheartedly. I'm exciting at the prospect of going back for my Master's. I'm not sure what I want to go to school for - but I'm thinking perhaps an MBA........ I'm also very excited at finally being able to have a 5 minute commute vs. my hour and a half trip to and from Wilsonville. Perhaps in the spring/summer I could even get a bike to go to work! Plus Bryce is on campus...... there are just so many great things about accepting this position it was tough to say no.
Saying Goodbye ~ October was hard for me at my current job because I had to say goodbye to two of my managers. It's been very stressful at work because I've been the sole person representing the foundation and trying to juggle about 4 different jobs. To lose my strong support group was very difficult and I had about two weeks for struggling to even get up in the morning sometimes. But when the UP opportunity came up you would think that I would be jumping for joy. Instead, I have cried at the thought of having to say goodbye to the remaining staff. Even though it has been difficult at work, and even though there is a fair amount of instability - it doesn't change the fact that I still genuinely care about the staff and am going to miss them. It's going to be very hard to say goodbye to them next Friday (my last day) - it feels like I'm going off to college again for the first time......... it's a bittersweet goodbye.
October has been a month of change. But I'm looking forward to what November has to bring. There are still many more adventures to be had..........
No comments:
Post a Comment