Happy Retirement to someone who gave me a chance...

When I started looking for a job after taking time off to raise my daughter, I had certain criteria in what I was looking for:

· I did not want to work downtown;
· I did not want to live downtown; and
· I certainly did not want to work for a lawyer.

I was a country girl and loved living in the wide open spaces. I wanted to find a job in the suburbs so I didn’t have to drive all the way into town and I was hoping to still live in my small home town. I hated trying to find a parking spot, so downtown was not my choice to find a job. I had worked for a lawyer while living in Northern Alberta and knew I didn’t want to do that again. It was long hours and no thanks...

I started to pound the pavement looking. I temped here and there for a year. Was I ever going to find anything permanent? Finally, I got a job interview through the temp agency for a one-year contract. It would be the longest contract I had been offered so I was anxious to do well in the interview.

When I got the details of the job I was dismayed to find it was downtown and in a law firm. I didn’t have much choice so I plunged ahead and went to the interview, all the while thinking it was not my first choice, but I needed a job so I had to try. I interviewed first with the HR manager and did well. She liked me and said she would get back to me. I got a call a few days later to interview with the partner who was looking. I was nervous because I really needed the job. The man I interviewed with was very nice, but was concerned about my lack of legal experience. I left the interview not really knowing how well I had done.

I finally got a phone call to say they wanted to hire me and could I start in a few weeks? Now I had to find a place to live and think about my commute to work. I ended up moving to an apartment downtown and walking to work, that's how close I lived to the office. Sometimes what we think we don’t want, ends up being exactly what we need. I never regretted any of the circumstances I found myself in.

A few days ago I went to this man’s retirement party and there were a lot of nice things said about him. As I sat listening to the speeches, I remembered the interview and the chance he gave me so many years ago. He said he wanted someone fast and accurate. I promised him I could deliver. He said he was concerned about my rusty legal experience. I think I started begging at that point...

When I started the job, I was nervous because I didn’t understand anything about the type of law he was practicing. He assured me that he would take care of the legal side of it, if I would keep my end of the deal and work hard and fast.

Eleven years later, I am sitting saying goodbye as he starts this new adventure in his life. He taught me everything I know about the legal field. I got more of an education from him than I ever could have received at school. He was patient and kind and a wonderful teacher. When I got my next job I was now considered a senior legal assistant all because I was given a chance and I said yes and did something I never wanted to do.

Thank you Mr. B for taking me on and I wish you all the very best in your retirement.