Wow. One week under my belt and boy has it been a busy one.
I feel like I’ve been everywhere, man.
I am sure I haven’t even touched the surface, but I did take a stab at it.
I went to my first Regional District of Mount Waddington meeting in Port McNeill, my first Port Hardy & District Chamber of Commerce meeting; and my first Port Hardy Rotary Club meeting.
I dropped in at a Fun Fair at Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw School and covered two hockey games — one in Port Alice and one in Port McNeill. There was curling at Storey’s Beach and an Ode to Haggis at the Legion in Port McNeill.
People have asked about my impressions of Port Alice and Port McNeill, but I haven’t yet had the opportunity to really explore either community.
I had to quickly leave Port Alice to cover another hockey game in Port McNeill and both times I’ve been in Port McNeill it has been dark.
Speaking of the dark, I have never driven where it is so black at night.
I’m used to having a moon to guide me most of the time.
I have heard rumours there is a moon here, too, but so far it always seems to be pouring rain when I am out at night, or in the day for that matter.
It has been an interesting first week. I have found the people I have encountered warm and welcoming and I am starting to find my way around the communities.
The first week at the Gazette was a bit challenging and left me feeling a little like a mainlander trying to get their sea legs.
However, I went for a walk along the beach by the airport Sunday and I was reminded of some words one of the wisest, most intuitive friends I have just wrote to me in an email.
“Every decision we make creates life experiences that happen in order to teach us something we need to learn.
“That’s why we walk in nature, because nature provides a clear avenue and then our hearts give us the answers we seek.”
As I walked along the beach with the waves crashing on the shore, keeping my eyes peeled for interesting rocks, shells, and pieces of driftwood, with my little dog frolicking by my side, I was reminded that this was why I moved here - to be part of this new Tri-port community and this new and exciting way of life and hoping to reflect my admiration for the area in the pages of your weekly newspaper the North Island Gazette.