Erin on Finding Her Dream Job

1 – Tell me three things about yourself, aside from your worklife.

I have tiny birthmarks in the shape of the big dipper on my right hand.

I’m extremely good at knowing what size of pot/jar/Tupperware, etc (prior to filling) will fit the exact right amount of food possible without overfilling -call it my spiritual gift if you may. 

Starting when I was 10, every single time I heard the theme song from the Price is Right, someone that I was related to was involved in some form of an accident. I made a list once, and it had happened over 30 times! It stopped happening almost to the day of 10 years. I still freak out every time I hear that damn song.

2 – Where do you work these days?

I own a shop called Rhymes With Orange, at 223 McDermot Ave, here in Winnipeg, with my best friend-Stefanie Hiebert! We have a partner-Doug Shand who does the men’s section, while Stef and I do the women’s section, kitschy house wares, accessories and new kids section!

We also have a 1956 camper trailer that Stef and I turned into a mobile vintage shop, and we go out to festivals with it in summer.

On top of the shop and trailer, we run a blog called Oh So Lovely Vintage!

3 – How long have you been running your business?

Well, technically we started in the summer of 2011 (with the trailer) but Rhymes With Orange opened its doors in December of 2011.

4 – What is the birth story of Oh So Lovely?

It all started when I hired Stef at Para Mix and we worked together for three years. At the end we knew that we both wanted to do our own thing, and we thought, why not do it together? We didn’t have the funds to open a brick and mortar shop at the time, and we had both been looking at old camper trailers.   We loved vintage, the idea of having a mobile shop and being able to travel!  First, we found the trailer on Kijiji in Minnesota, Stef’s dad hauled in back to Winnipeg for us, and then we spent the winter of 2010 completely gutting the whole thing with help from Stef’s husband and dad and Derek. We sanded the beast down, Emery (Stef’s husband) gave it one incredible paint job, and we re-did the entire inside turning it into a retro little home on wheels!  Next we threw together our blog to try to build a name for ourselves. Once the trailer was up and running we were lucky to receive a lot of amazing press, including a piece in Bust magazine, The Globe and Mail and the Winnipeg Free Press! The blog took off after that and we knew we would need to expand once our first Summer of festivals with the trailer was over.  That summer, we were parked at the Fringe Festival for 12 days in front of one of our favorite vintage shops- Vintage Glory. We had known the owner-Doug Shand (Remy Shand’s dad!) for years from shopping at his stores, and knew that his lovely wife Lana had recently passed away. She had always been in charge of the women’s section, so after she passed, we saw that he needed help and offered to help out. Little did we know, he would take us up on the offer, letting us move in once we were done at the Fringe Fest, and take up half of the store to do the women’s section! It went well and after being there for only 3 months, our lease was up and we started looking for a new space-something bigger and cheerier and then we stumbled across our current spot on McDermot, and fell in love! We still can’t believe how lucky we were…the timing of everything was incredible!

5 – What is a typical work week like for you?

We have a pretty ideal schedule.  Our partner Doug always works Sundays and Mondays, so Stef and I work Tuesday-Saturday from 11pm-6pm. We work together 3 of those days and then we each take a day at the shop by ourselves unless it’s really busy or if we have some kind of deadline to meet. We try to blog every day, so often if the shop is busy this means doing blog posts at home in the evenings. If I’m not at the shop, I’m usually out thrifting. I try to go at least 3-4 times a week. It’s what I choose to do on my days off anyway, so I’m killing two birds with one stone!

6 – What do you love the most about running your own business?

I love the freedom it gives me. I get to make my own schedule, work with my best friend, and sell stuff that I genuinely love, what more could a girl ask for?  The very best part is that I found a way to combine running my dream store, travelling & shopping!

 I first travelled to South East Asia back in 2004 with my sister Megan and completely fell in love, especially with Thailand. I then spent a year backpacking through 11 countries in S.E. Asia with my boyfriend (now husband) and found incredible vintage markets and literally shopped till I dropped.  I always secretly hoped to one day be able to turn my passion for travel and shopping into some form of business…

In two weeks, Stef and I will be heading back to Thailand for the third time in the last 12 months on a buying trip/holiday and couldn’t be more excited! The trips are always a complete whirlwind and are extremely overwhelming, but we really do have the best time! Days are very long and crazy HOT. As soon as we get off the plane we hit the ground running.  We shop all day, from early in the morning to the wee hours of the night (when things really start to pick up in Bangkok!) trying to fight the jetlag. We always manage to relax too- usually on an island for a week in between shopping! I know, I know-Living. The. Dream.

7 – What’s something that sucks about running your own business?

Having to be responsible all of the time. You can’t call in fake-sick and you have to deal with a LOT of crazies. It can be stressful and hours are often long.

8 – What are some of the pros and cons of working so closely with your best friend?

It’s been mostly positive so far because we usually see eye to eye on things! We both share a deep love of all things vintage and have pretty similar taste. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses and have learned to respect each other and work off of each other. We also realized early on that we don’t always have to talk, and that silence can be a very good thing. It is sometimes hard staying focused on the business-side of things and not getting carried away with the friendship-side of things-there is a fine line! We have found a pretty good balance, but we always have a box of wine in the fridge for those days when things aren’t running so smoothly!

9 – It must be a lot of work. Who is your biggest support?

It is a lot of work, but because I’m passionate about it, it often doesn’t feel like work. My husband, Derek has definitely been my rock. The past year has had its’ ups and downs, especially financially and I’ve had to rely on him big time. I hope that he knows that when his dream comes a-knocking, I will do everything in my power to let him chase it!

10 – Have you ever wanted to throw in the towel on the whole thing?

Never. Not even for a second.

11 – You have started a different business before. Tell me about it.

Oh lord. After managing Para Mix-a boutique in Osborne village for 6 years, I had hit a wall. I hated going to work, I wasn’t being challenged and I knew it was a time for a change. I think deep down I have always known that I would one day open up my own shop. I guess you could say I got the business gene from my parents-both of which own their own businesses. At the time I didn’t know what kind of shop, and I really didn’t care, I just knew that I needed a change. When the opportunity arose to start a restaurant with my boss at the time, I jumped on it. We spent the entire winter creating recipes and building the business from the ground up.  We opened the doors of Kawaii Crepe in December of 2009. The idea was great, but I literally worked myself into the ground. I was working 20 hour days, I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating and I never saw Derek or my family. It’s all kind of a blur…

12 – When did you first start to question whether that was the right thing for you?

I should have known in the very beginning. There seemed to be a trust issue between my partner and I, we butt heads often and there were a lot of secrets (mostly about recipes) that I was not allowed to know,  which, looking back, was INSANE since I was running the kitchen and had money invested in the company.

13 – How did you come to realize that you were going to pull out, after all the blood, sweat and tears that you had put into it?

After a long two months I knew my heart just wasn’t in it, and neither was my body. My business partners and I decided that I needed to get away, so I got on the next flight to Thailand with two of my girlfriends and didn’t look back. While I was overseas I got an email from a friend of mine who told me that her friend had been hired at Kawaii while I was away, to change all of the recipes that I had a huge hand in creating over a years’ time (at this time I was still a partner and had money invested as well)! I was beyond livid, drank a few too many mojitos on the beach, and made the decision. I couldn’t deal with the sneakiness and the bullshit.

A few weeks into the trip Derek showed up and proposed! I knew then for sure that I needed to start a new life with him and leave Kawaii behind, so I did. There was one super awkward meeting when I returned home, I sold my shares and have never looked back. I don’t regret opening Kawaii, because I learned a lot-about running a business, about partnership, and I learned a lot about myself.

14 – Who supported you through that time?

Hands down, Derek. He was completely incredible. I can’t even begin to go into details, but he went way WAY above and beyond a boyfriend’s duties. It really blows my mind. My family was incredible as well. They always had my back, and it meant the world to me. Also my friends were amazing. They could tell I was beyond overworked, and volunteered their time to wash dishes, prep food and clean. I will forever be indebted to all of them.

15 – Do you remember your last day working there? How were you feeling?

Ha, I really don’t! I don’t remember anything of the last few weeks before I left for Thailand. I remember crying on my daily 5 am walk to work and having tears freeze to my cheeks in the -30 temperatures. I was broken.

16 – What was the hardest part about leaving that place?

Ha, not a whole lot. No that’s not true, knowing how much I had put into it, and that I would leave with nothing.

17 – How did you recover from that exhausting time in your life?

I chose not to work for a few months. I was a zombie and I needed to give my body time to recover.  I ate a lot too (I had lost a substantial amount of weight due to stress) and just relaxed to the max.

18 – Why is your current business a better fit for you than your previous?

Oh goodness, there are 8000 reasons.  Most importantly, it makes me happy and I’m good at it!

19 – What advice would you have for others who are looking for their dream job?

It sounds cheesy, but my advice would be that if you have an idea, even if people think you are crazy, just try it! Obviously do take family and friends opinions at high regard because they will be the ones to have your back, whether things go good or bad. I would rather fail trying than regret not giving it a go.  Hold your head up high and work as hard as you can to make your dream a reality. There will be bumps in the road, but you will be stronger because of those bumps in the long run.

Also, get every last detail in writing. You’ll thank me for this one later.

20 – At the end of your life, what difference will finding your dream job have made for you?

I hope that I can say that I did something that I truly loved and did it well. Quality always comes first. My parents never pressured me to go to school and it never felt right for me. I learn things better hands on.  They respected my decisions, supported me, loved me unconditionally and I hope to one day do the same for my kids. I hope they will see that hard work truly does pay off and that you really can do anything you put your mind to! Even if this isn’t my lifelong career, I will always have amazing memories of a time where I felt I was living my dream.

Peter on Mindfulness

1 – Tell me three things about yourself aside from practicing mindfulness.  

Most days I feel a powerful combination of being incredibly blessed, fortunate, and burdened.  

I am deathly afraid of Fear - have fun with that all you Analyst types out there!?!  

And lastly, I’m hopelessly “OVER THE MOON” for my daughterS; not to worry though, … it’s held in Awareness <wink>.      

2 – What is mindfulness?  

As I understand it, simply, moment-to-moment nonjudgmental Awareness.  Non-judging, Patience, Beginner’s Mind, Trust, Non-Striving, Acceptance, and Letting Go are the Attitudinal Foundations.  

   

3 – When and how did you first hear about it, and what was your first impression?  

As a formal  concept, ‘Mindfulness’ came to me in my early years as a Practicing Nurse in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; i.e.,  part and parcel of a ’ Skill’ set taught in  Dialectical Behavioural Therapy with the end thought to be an enhanced  ability to act more Wisely amidst swirling emotion and challenging circumstance .  Informally; however, ‘Mindfulness’ spoke to me as a young Asian boy with a bad bowl-cut who was enamoured with Eastern and Zen Warrior Archetypes –vanquishing all comers deftly, dispassionately, and for the greater good … it’s remarkable when I think about how powerful and lasting early impressions can be … hmmmm, something to be mindful of <wink>.  

        

4 – What do you love most about mindfulness?  

Everything!

5 – What do you find difficult about mindfulness?  

Everything!  In a nutshell, for me anyway, practicing Mindfulness is a lot counterculture and a bit Political protest.  Finding the time for Human BEING amidst a whole lot of Human DOING is, at times, ridiculously  challenging; the payoff; however, is that it makes everything SO much more vivid, more full, and even … Surprising.  Simple often becomes sublime; the distressing less prominent; and the sometimes bothersome notions of ‘Me’ and ‘I’ becomes less so – they get to take an oft-needed break!?!   Immersion in the moment – as fleeting as it tends to be - is rich, revealing, and liberating.  And really, it’s as simple as, I (blessed as I am) LOVE life, and so, it makes perfect sense to me, to want to BE there FOR and IN as FULLY as I can possibly be.  It’s as someone much cleverer than I once very succinctly said, “We have only Moments to Live”.  And so, if Being and ‘Awarenessing’ can be cultivated … sign me UP!!!  So, I suppose I don’t want to miss a thing! And Jesus, I’m talking in song now!?! J               

6 – What do you do for work and how does mindfulness fit in?  

I am a psychotherapist with Children and Families in the context of a medical event or illness; I am a nurse; and I am a facilitator of: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and clinical nursing education. 

Overall, Mindfulness adds to my sensitivity, my courage, and my equanimity.  It also takes some of the pressure off in that I just Trust more.  Judgement, the headwork, an agenda, notions of structure and ‘how things ought to go and what I ought to do.’ (which are all still valuable by-the-way) all ease up just a little, which makes space for things like creativity, like potential, like more ‘real’ seeing, and like all of the vast resources perpetually available in any shared moment.  It’s been a revelation and likely, my neuroses feel a little more neglected these days.  Also, the odd meditation with clients is a hoot too!?!  The Joy of discovery and all! 

7 – Tell me about your family. How does mindfulness fit in with family life?  

A fab pair of sisters along with their growing families, a wonderful wife, and two luminous daughters (Bethany aged 3 and Rosalyn is 8weeks-old as of two days ago).  A mythical mother who died unexpectedly and a father whom I understand and empathize with just a little bit more each day. 

And with mindfulness, it’s simple really, I’m more Present for and to those whom I love and care about. And, I’d like to think it’s a little contagious.  It often feels that way.       

8 – How does mindfulness fit into your life as an athlete/adventurer?  

Seemingly organically, it’s seeped into how I choose to ‘Re-Create’ myself (Thank-you to a lovely mentor – Dawn Macdonald – for the perfect play on words).  Nature and pursuits that demand my focused attention - lest their sometimes be painful consequences - ; be it the Martial Arts or the various disciplines of Adventure Racing (Trekking and Orienteering, Mountain-Biking, and Canoeing), what’s always being reinforced at the heart of the matter, is ‘paying attention’: to breath, to self, to other, to surroundings, to circumstance, and to process – and then more reflexively acting from a discerning and skilful place; that is, where skill and quicker discernment flow fundamentally from practice (and ‘The Practice’) over time.  And mindfulness does, for the obvious reasons, lend itself quite nicely to both Nature’s grandness and combat sports.  It’s just somehow easier to pay attention to either a fist flying at your face or a sunrise over the lake.  

It’s interesting to me though, as I reflect on this, what’s obvious is that a mindful path does not easily lend itself to compartmentalization ... whether it’s recreation, how I participate in therapy, or how I am in relation with loved ones, it’s all the same: action rooted in a particular kind of Awareness … it’s Big and Loving and, for the most part, thankfully, waaaaay beyond my comprehension (i.e., so I don’t get so caught up in a pretty well-worn reflex of chasing understanding).  And something that has been especially helpful for me of late, is how mindfulness allows for a kind of playfulness with and honouring of both ambition/ competitiveness and forgiveness/ non-judgement.  So, as much as I have become accustomed to (and comfortable with) facilitating for and journeying with others, I don’t have to deny myself the odd victory lap when and if it comes my way.  Ego is apparently not inherently bad; and thus, back to balance.  So, I suppose, mindfulness, in all realms, pushes me towards allowing for a greater wholeness in terms of the entire gambit of living and experiencing.  Perhaps, less ‘good’ or ‘bad’, just whatever impulse is there and how might I, in this moment, play with and honour that?   

9 – What part of your childhood, if any, nurtured or prepared you for a mindfulness practice now?  

I am aware of my not-knowing the answer to this question.  Perhaps it will come …

10 – When do you practice mindfulness? 

When I lock eyes with my daughters.

Also, (and WAY secondarily!?!) both when it’s penciled in and whenever it occurs to me! 

11 – What gets in the way of practicing mindfulness?  

An 8-week old!?!  Seriously, chronic sleep deprivation SUCKS. … you see, contrary to popular belief, mindfulness ain’t  just a ‘Bliss Train’!?! … it’s just life, warts and hardship and all.  J  What changes; however, is how one enters and then relates to that hardship. 

12 – How would your life be different today if mindfulness had never come across your path?  

<SHUDDER!>  

13 – Do kids practice mindfulness naturally? How?  

They don’t Practice Mindfulness, they Embody it.  Younger kids especially, are so unfettered and without pre-conception; so close to Joy and Curiousity; there is a quality of Union with their Experience.  And, it is beautifully compelling, a little tragic, and a whole lot instructive. For example, a sometimes painful revelation is that I’ve spent parts of the last 12 years playing with a Tai Chi Practice so that I might reasonably resemble breathing and holding my hands like my daughters’ still naturally and unthinkingly do.  What’s hopeful though is that they remind me that Ease (without tension) and Depth (belly breathing, i.e., utilizing one’s full capacity) and Unbridledness are our birthright.  Practice, practice, practice … so as to, in many ways, remove constraints and return once more to our ‘True’ Nature.      

14 – We live in a time of constant stimulation, where we are always on the go. How relevant is mindfulness in western culture today?  

Me thinks the answer to that question is within your very mindful question. 

15 - What is the first step to practicing mindfulness for someone who feels they don’t have time?  

You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day - unless you're too busy;
then you should sit for an hour.  ~ Old Zen adage

If the Practice resonates with you at all – just Sit and Breathe and Observe …and sit some more of course, … and then, everything else, seems to follow.  Sounds trite no?  But, this was and continues to in fact, be my experience.  Trust.  And discipline I suppose is helpful too.    

16 – Does mindfulness contribute to physical wellness? How?  

Reconnecting with the breath first and foremost, and then the foot-fall, and then with progressive extension and contraction, exertion and relaxation; from this, awareness of an integrated and not a discrete body comes.  Thoughts, feelings, and the sensations of movement are more deeply experienced together, each affecting the other – amplifying, dampening, and all points in between.  And it’s this greater awareness of one’s body that then seems to gives way to impetus and appreciation and wisdom.  The impetus, in terms of a (re)discovered need to express one’s physicality; appreciation, in terms of what one can or might do (limits and all); and finally, a deepening wisdom in terms of a nagging pull towards really coming to know – or again, remembering – just exactly how to take care of one’s particular body. And why shouldn’t this be the case, as the vehicle for mindful living is nothing if it’s not the body (… and the mind … and the spirit … and everything else really <wink>).    

17 – Is having a mindfulness practice a luxury for those who have resources and time on their hands? Or is it for everyone?  

My gut response - call it Peter’s take on the Dharma:  suffering is universal; mindfulness, as remedy, is universal also.  We all have some capacity to pay more attention.  And moreover, we all are and are all deserving of that kind of love.  ‘The Practice’ – and please do forgive the vagueness – extends in all directions.      

18 – How has mindfulness surprised you recently?  

I’m becoming more acquainted with my ‘Shadow-side’.   

19 – Who has been most supportive of this path into mindfulness? 

My wife Linda: a gem of a Human Being and an even better Teammate.  But, in terms of Mindfulness, she sees me in ways I cannot yet entirely see myself which then strengthens my resolve to continue to choose to: Trust, Let Go, Accept, and Not Know.  And an aside, it’s MIND-blowing really, when I get a sense of how deeply I am Loved.  

20 – At the end of your life, how might mindfulness have made a difference for you?  

I will have been more IN my life than not; it would be more real, less illusory; and I will have been more Courageous - Courageous in connecting, being authentic, and being true to what sometimes feels like a fluid calling.  And I do Trust that in retrospect, it will make sense and that it will have been Good.    

Ang on Autism

 1 -  Tell me 3 things in your life aside from having a child recently diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

My husband and I got married 3 days after I turned 18 and recently celebrated our 18th anniversary. 

Now we have four kids and I’ve been doing the stay at home mom thing for a loong time. 

I’ve learned the hard way that the stuff I need in my life to stay above water are girlfriends and laughter and exercise and music all in steady doses. Maybe I should just move our family to a dance floor.

2 -  Who are the people in your family? Tell me about your kids.

Emily-13: Artistic and bubbly and witty.
Tom-7: Bright and social and sensitive This interview is because of him.
Simon-6: Momma’s boy and gentle and tough.
Magdelina-3: Expressive and spunky and affectionate.
Steve-39: My husband has a rare deep soul that awes me and fills me with love for him. He has a heart of gold and he makes me laugh my butt off daily.


3 - Where do you live?

Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, BC.

4 - What’s life like over there?

It's an ocean-side town where retirees and golfers live in peace and harmony with young families and teenagers, most of the time. Life’s a beach. Actually it isn’t but living 2 minutes from the beach helps.

5 - What is autism?

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.
-Wikipedia

6 - What are some common misconceptions about autism?

One misconception that I had was that they are robotic people with no capacity for relationships. Tom has high-functioning autism, and he’s a very social person. But he is very rigid and when an invisible boundary in his mind is crossed he becomes extremely loud and emotional and inconsolable. Often he just wakes up that way. 

7 - What difference has it made to finally have a diagnosis for Tom?
 
My definition of Tom’s autism is confusing. But now that he has his diagnosis, a whole world of answers has only just been opened up before us. Those who’ve been close to me during this journey know what a weight has been lifted through this diagnosis.

8 -  What are some of your favorite things about your son Tom?

Tom is a serious romantic. He’s laid the designing of his future home to rest for now because he wants his wife to share in the planning. And last night he was digging through his collection of random things and he rediscovered the old little jewellery box for a ring that he’s been saving for when he asks a girl to marry him. I assured him that she’s going to love how he saved it just for her.

9 - Describe a great moment you’ve had with him recently.

He was so happy and hopeful when we checked out his new school this summer. Public school was like trying to fit a star into a square mold. He had an awful experience even though we had wonderful teachers. Not every kid is lucky enough to find school fun and easy. His new school is made for autistic spectrum kids. Just watching him explore the learning center equipped with a dimly lit relaxing lava lamps and pillows room, exercise equipment a big comfy couch and more, I could feel his spirit soaring. And every afternoon the kids take off and do gymnastics, swimming, hikes, etc etc. The kids can learn at the shared table, or lay on the floor and do their schoolwork or they can sit in a special room all by themselves. Tom shares his teacher with ONE other student!! One of my uber intellectual questions for the school director was whether the kids had to disassemble their Lego creation during clean-up like in public school. My great moment with Tom was watching a huge issue melt off his back as she said that she would often hide their creations in her desk for them.


10 - If it’s okay, tell me about what that was like for you as a mom, to start to tune in to something being a bit different about this beautiful soul.

 I don’t know. Tom is so very loud from the time he was a baby. His outbursts and behaviours took over all our senses and logic and we were in survival mode for years. Our tuning knobs were bust out and raw wires were all that remained. Only a few people understand what it’s been like for us. But then he would have a good afternoon or a good day and we’d be amazed again with the beautiful and interesting soul that he is. And then he’d have like 2 good days and we would tell ourselves that he would eventually grow out of his behaviours. It was really hard, that’s what it was.

11- What did you need from people at that time?

When Tom was 3 I needed our doctor to listen to me. I got a lecture for not feeding Tom only organic food and he reluctantly referred Tom to a pediatrician. The pediatrician said that Tom would grow out of it. We deeply wanted to believe him and part of us did.

12 -  What strengths inside yourself have you needed to draw upon?

Well, I’ve had to become far more resilient to how people perceive me in public. I secretly want us to be that nice quiet family that onlookers admire. The attentive mom with her darlings who wouldn’t think to displease her. Instead I have the opposite. I mean, we’ve fooled a few people here and there. There’s the sweet grannies who come to our table in restaurants to comment on how wonderfully behaved our children are. I hate that because then I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to pay the bill and get the heck out of there before all hell breaks loose. The thing with Autism is you don’t really get how you are affecting others and Tom has attracted a lot of attention with his public outbursts over the years. And of course that attention becomes directed at the seemingly brain-dead parents who have seemingly allowed and probably reinforced his behaviour thus creating the monster before them. That feeling of being judged left me in tears years ago. Now I just gotta say in my head: “Yeah, my kid’s too loud and I’m not reprimanding him because that will only make it worse at this point, so bite me” when I feel those eyes on me.

13 - What’s been the hardest part of this all?

I hate thinking about it but if only we had known early on when his mind was more pliable. Kids who are diagnosed early can improve dramatically through different therapies. So why aren’t doctors better informed? The latest statistic says that 1 in 68 kids in the US are on the autism spectrum.

14 - Who has been the most supportive?

Everyone. But, Tom’s grandmas have been huge to me through this.

15 - What has surprised you most about this all?

Honestly, that I want him the way he is. I never wanted a “different” child and the thought would have scared me to death back in the day but I have a good feeling about him. He has a pure heart.


16 - What are some of your hopes for Tom?

More honesty: His assessment showed that Tom is gifted. In an emotional moment for me, the psychologist assured us that our little conundrum could be the next Bill Gates. So my hope for Tom is that he will be able to go on many shopping sprees for his mom and give his parents a posh condo in Maui and a plane and also end world hunger in it‘s entirety. But I’d be pretty happy too if he found a satisfying job that utilizes his talents and pays the bills. I also hope that we can get him all the help he needs right now to overcome his verbal and expressive language learning disability. He’s going to need to accurately share what’s going on in his head from time to time. Thirdly, I hope that he finds that girl who’s going to appreciate the old jewellery box and that she appreciates the boy who saved it for her even more.

17 - What’s it like talking with friends and family about this situation?

They feel my joy. A fog has loomed over our family for centuries, okay more like 7 years. Now we find out that our beautiful yet confusing boy has a special gift that comes with all kinds of strengths and fascinating characteristics. And there’s a school and all kinds of programs in our area that are made just for him. Everyone is beaming with me.

Billy on Golf

1 - Tell me 3 things about yourself aside from being a golfer.

I pee a lot, especially when I drink. I love to sing loud ballads while I do the dishes. I am crazy about my girlfriend Meagan Bartel. 

2 - How long have you been golfing?

I can give you a ballpark figure, I’m 26 now and I started around 11 I think so let’s call it 15 years.

3 - How did you get started?

I knew my cousin Jon was an avid golfer and both my brother Tom and Dad golfed some so I guess I got the idea from them. 

4 - What does golf mean to you?

Golf is my playground, my therapy session, my idea of the perfect day. 

5 - What’s your favorite course to play regularly? How come?

I love playing carman. It’s tough but not too tough and it’s always in good shape. Also it used to be 30 bucks to play with cart after 3:00 pm which was a crazy deal…I think it’s more like 44 now, but still a great deal.

6 - What’s the best course you’ve ever played? 

Tower Ranch in Kelowna.

7 - On a scale of can’t-hit-the-ball to professional, how good are you?

I am about a 10 handicap. Handicap is your average amount above or below par. Pros are usually on or below par on courses WAY tougher than I usually play… so basically any given pro would beat me by about 15 strokes on any given day.

8 - What’s a common misconception non-golfers have about golf?

Just how difficult it really is.

9 - Is golf for everyone?

Nooooooooononononono. I talked to a teaching pro this summer in Abbotsford. He told me a story about trying to teach a large woman who wanted to learn so she could golf with her husband. He had to tell her that physically it just wasn’t doable.

10 - Describe the perfect golf game.

I’ve dreamed about that many times…pretty much it means I hit every ball on the screws and drain every putt. But coming back to reality…the perfect golf game starts with good buddies on a cool fall day with almost no wind, nobody holding us up, and beer.

11 - Tell me about a surprising moment you’ve had on the green.

My Uncle James took me golfing with Trevor Kidd last year for my birthday. Kidd hit a couple really bad shots and then followed it up by chunking a chip onto the green, he then proceeded to pick his ball up and not finish the hole. A bit of a baby move for a professional athlete.

12 - Tell me about an emotional moment you’ve had on the green.

Winning the Jon Heinrichs Memorial Texas Scramble in Roland. I was around 14 years old and we won with a convincing 14 under par. I know my uncle Don was on my team but I can't remember who else.

13 - Tell me about a funny time you’ve had while golfing.

It’s funny now but the tale of Barb and Alex and Falcon Lake Golf and Country I will not soon forget. Last year my family went camping at west hawk. I finally convinced my dad to go golfing with me. It was all set up for an early morning tee time at falcon. We were at the club house at the break of dawn for breakfast and had enough time to hit a few putts and warm up before the round, perfect. We only had a tee time for the 2 of us so it’s not uncommon to be paired up with a single or another 2 some. We get to the first tee box and there they were, Barb and her son Alex. Let’s just say their combined weight was about a hundred and six pounds and their maximum shot capacity if all the stars aligned was about 30 yards. The round was like a never ending nightmare of watch Barb instruct Alex, watch Alex hit it 15 yards. Then watch Barb hit it 15 yards and repeat. My Dad and I are both really nice people, especially my Dad. By hole 11 there were no goodbyes, there were no thanks for the game, there was just cloud of dust and 2 muttering Heinrichs men who just wanted to play some golf already. The final seven holes was a game of who can swing out their frusterations the hardest. It was the fastest seven holes of our lives. 

14 - What role does alcohol play in the game of golf?

Alcohol makes playing with Barb and Alex almost bearable…almost. No alcohol’s role is varied depending on who you are. It can be the one or two drinks that loosens you up to play a little better, or a messy beer a hole work golf tourney that gets way out of hand.

15 - Is there a lot of business schmoozing that goes on out there?

There is but most of the important schmoozing is done on private courses, where I rarely get a chance to play.

16 - Explain what people mean when they say that golfing is a stress-reliever.

It’s only a stress-reliever when you let it be. It can be so maddening to not be able to get that damn ball into the air or in the cup or out of the friggen sand or whatever, but if you can control your emotions and focus on the task at hand and clear your mind of everything else it can set you free.

17 - Tell me some thoughts on Tiger Woods, including his scandalous past.

he is the most exciting player to play the game. he should have never gotten married.

18 - Who’s your favorite person to golf with and why?

My Dad. I love showing him what I can do with a golf ball.

19 - Say something about the role golf has played in your life as you’ve gone through hard times.

It’s given me something to focus on other than the grief of losing my mom and brother.

20 - At the end of your life, what difference might having been a golfer have made for

you?

Maybe all the difference. Or maybe I just will have spent a hell of a lot more money..and a lot more time outdoors.