Joy, and consequences

…an intermission

Jul 23, 2026

(As I was unpacking my orbs last night)

Yesterday I, in order to alleviate my own anxiety, I wrote all about how stressful one “can we talk?” text can be.

…and because I mostly only write once a day here, I didn’t update anyone on the new reality and the outcome of the conversation that followed that text.

…which I didn’t realize, for those people reading daily, here, might cause secondary anxiety. If you are the kind of person who is deeply caring (or a friend who loves me) I apologize. Thank my friend Heather (with who I do art weekly) checked in to alleviate her concern.

…so she got the news first.

I got a job. Or rather…I got the job that had been offered to me, and then rescinded…back.

I nearly let fear stop me from going into that conversation. I had imagined all the worst case scenarios. The why of why they’d decided not to hire me after all. I imagined that they’d finally discovered that I am a rainbow shell of incompetences (I’m not)…or that I’d violated some social rule without knowing it (I hadn’t).

It turns out they just hoped I could work more shifts than I’d offered.

So…yesterday morning I went and had what I thought was going to be a difficult conversation, but instead was deeply affirming and exciting.

I get to be the front desk person at an inn just a block and a half away from the ocean, with wondrous bosses, in the magical torn in which I live.

I CANNOT OVERSTATE THIS.

I have always wanted to work at an Inn!

Blame Bob Newhart and his strangely hilarious and idyllic show, Newhart.

For reference:

Or Lorelai Gilmore and Sookie, from Gilmore Girls…and the show Gilmore Girls.

The idea of greeting visitors and making them feel welcome in a small magical town…or helping them on their way, or sharing the tips that might be appropriate for their trip.

THIS IS MY JAM.

I wanted to work there last summer, but ended up serving at the sushi restaurant instead. And that, though magical too (it’s one of the best sushi restaurants I’ve ever been too, and I’ve been to many!), was too much for my brain.

But working the front desk of an adorable Inn next to a sushi restaurant and a bakery, on the same street as THREE bookshops, and within walking distance of the ocean?!

MAGICAL.

…and while my boss tried to remind me that it is still “work”…I don’t think she realizes (or rather she does and doesn’t want me to get hurt) that when I approach my work with excitement and joy and dedication to my core values of making people feel welcomed and valued…that working really can be magical.

So…the conversation not only went well…it resulted in me achieving one of my dreams.

Plus. It is only a 25 minutes walk from my house! Which means I will absolutely get my daily, doctor-prescribed, walk in!

For every beautiful thing (well most of them) there is a ripple.

…and sadly this ripple means that I won’t be able to attend Art with Heather on Thursdays anymore. (But am I am so spectacularly grateful for the weeks and weeks and weeks of doing art across the table from her)

…but Heather and I are working at find alternate times, because she is excited too, for me to be gainfully employed and doing what I love.

So today, I went to the market. My favourite screenwriter stopped me for a chat and we talked about life, our boys, and our writing projects.

(I’m working on a tv show based on my very queer, supernatural, small town cozy novelette about ghosts, love and well written obituaries, and I heartily believe it will be like a Canadian Gilmore Girls with a blend of magical realism, and so very full of joy, and small town wonder…and adorableness)

But what better place to be writing it than at Rosefinch on Mondays (which is one of the settings of the show) and the Inn on Thursdays and Fridays! My screenwriting friend offered to drop off my chaispresso (what I call a dirty chai in my head) on her writing breaks.

For real y’all. Since I’ve lived in this town I’ve worked in a post office/cafe/mercantile setting (at Rosefinch) where I have a tiny bookshop and my job is to help eliminate loneliness…and I will be working their Mondays forever making potions and serving soup and sandwiches (or until they take away my key)…please go visit if you’re ever nearby (The Darling Rosefinch of my Heart) they have afternoon tea, and crafternoons, and music nights, and are only a hop and skip and a jump away from one of my favourite lighthouse settings in Nova Scotia.

On Tuesdays from April-October I get to be the person welcoming people into the Lunenburg Art Gallery Society…a 54 year old society that protects the art of mouth painter (and carver!) Earl Bailey and includes around 185 local member artists each creating art based on a theme. (This month it is sand, sea and sky) The artists are of all levels and abilities, and it is a magical place…with visitors from all over the world. I always say that being there means I don’t have to travel.

The first summer I worked at one of the brilliant bookshops in town. (But left to start my own with the blessings of my bosses! I still fill in there occasionally, and was miraculously there the day Beth arrived in town…and that started a whole NEW story…which we will be sharing as it unfolds).

And on Wednesdays I meet with the Jabberwockees (a group of wondrous writers), I play cribbage and I reserve the day for play and rest.

Last July I was just opening the third version of Curious & Kind. I got to facilitate magical community things until April when I thought I’d be moving to the city, and handed the space over to a wondrous local upholsterer.

But now that I’m staying here?! I’ll be continuing at Rosefinch on Mondays, Tuesdays at the gallery, Wednesdays are reserved for play, Thursday and Friday at the Inn (half days to start) and parenting on the weekends. Plus adventuring with my partner, and my friends. And every Third Saturday I get to tell a story at Nan Tepper’s Wham! Bam! Thank You! Slam!

Just writing it out and seeing this life I could have dreamed as a child from a rural northern community…looking at my bucket list and seeing how so many of the items had been checked off.

✅ be a radio dj

✅record an album

✅ perform in a play

✅ work on a movie

✅ work at a bookstore

✅ be a part of a poetry slam

✅ do stand up comedy

✅ win a Moth storySLAM

✅ build Curious & Kind

✅ get published in a literary magazine

✅ write a novelette

✅ write a children’s book