What Now?

It's mid-evening on a Saturday and I'm drinking a Guinness. That's good. Ariel, Alex and I are just back from dinner at our local pizza joint - Uncle Joe's - and I'm listening to a sweet mix I made my daughter Alex. That's good. Michael is staying the night at his buddy Andrew's house and Michelle is at her big annual auction.

There are a few other good things going on. My amazing wife threw me a pre-party for my birthday last Sunday (my big 35th birthday was on Wednesday the 20th) and invited a dozen or so of my closest friends and in-laws. They all brought their children and/or dogs and it was quite a party. The weather cooperated with clear skies and temperatures in the upper 50's. A perfect fall day here in Anchor-town. That was great but there was one better - on my actual birthday I was offered a new job (word up). I took it and look forward to the new challenge and the opportunities for growth that it will provide. My days will be free to ride my bike, ski, snowboard, or whatever I choose to do. Perhaps I'll nap. The real bonus is that I'll be able to spend more time with my family and I'll no longer have to travel to bush Alaska. Don't get me wrong - I am very thankful for being able to travel to small, rural villages in Alaska that I can honestly say I never would have been able to visit. But after five years of it, I'm done.

So there's that. Now I can reinvent myself and wake up each day with a fresh, new purpose. The past few days have been a bit emotionally draining but I'm a tough kid. I thank my wife and children for supporting me and my siblings - particularly my infinitely wise older sister Jennifer - for giving my strength from the root to the fruit. That's the way everything starts. Hope all is well where you are. Goodnight.