Single in the City
Heads to...another city.
As I titled this column and pushed enter on the keyboard, the lump in my throat grew larger and my eyes began to well with tears. I'm overwhelmed with strong emotions; some involving the excitement of what's to come, and the rest involving the passion and love I have for our city.
I recently accepted a terrific new job that's unfortunately not here in Moncton; it's in Halifax. Growing up in the Maritimes we know that regardless of where you live, you will most certainly always be surrounded by the charm, grace and uniqueness each city possesses. And nothing rings more true than with Moncton.
My happiness for landing the perfect job in a new city was overshadowed just slightly by what I'm leaving behind. Throughout the past year and a half, I've been given an unbelievable opportunity to share my experiences through my writing. I'll always be grateful for that. Walking away from this column is one of the hardest things I will ever do. Breaking up with a guy, losing my mind in a bottle of beer, tripping over words or winding up in the most awkward of situations were certainly not that much fun, but nothing compared to how I feel about closing this column.
I write with honesty and hold this column so very close to my heart. It's become a part of me, of my journey and of my development. It's become so important to me I sometimes can't imagine not having it in my life. But alas, as with many other things, I need to remember to continue to move forward and move on. I certainly can't be your 'Single in the City' girl if I no longer call Moncton my stomping ground.
I'm about to embark onto unfamiliar territory. A great city filled with new experiences, new adventures, new watering holes and of course, new men. (And if I may take a moment and point out that there are some very attractive men roaming the streets of Halifax. Wow. It must be something in the water). I'm filled with a lot of excitement and even a bit of nervousness for what's to come. I've become very used to Moncton and the way we interact and mingle and date and relate, that moving to another city although incredibly exciting, is still a bit frightening. Will I make it there? Will I fit in there? These questions will soon be answered as I get adjusted to my new digs, but in the meantime I get to remember all the laughter and fun I've had experiencing the ups and downs involved in dating while I was here.
On the flipside I'm moving to Halifax during (in my opinion) one of the best times of year; summer. With its bustling waterfront activities, festivals, open patios and concerts in the park, I will get to enjoy all this and more, all the while logging it into the new section of my memory bank.
At this point in my life with the amount of growth I've done and the amount of lessons I've learned, I know my fabulousness will translate. I get to take that with me. I get to bring my learning and my wealth of knowledge with me and hopefully continue to make positive decisions with regards to my life and the path I choose. With or without a man next to me, I know if I continue to believe in myself and believe in what I need from someone else, I will never fall short of my goals. Wiping the tears from my cheek now solidifies this for me.
I can't even begin to express how thankful I am for being able to jump off the page month after month with my column. I will forever be grateful for the trueness I feel inside and the honesty it has brought into my life. I smile now thinking of the incredible single people I've met over the past year. I'm warmed by how comfortable you all were with sharing your stories with me. Having someone tell you they appreciate you for your truth and your passion means the world to me. It really does. None of you will ever know how much I appreciate that and how much I appreciate this entire experience.
My only hope and my only goal when I began this column, was to open your hearts and your minds to the possibility of love in this city. A love you deserve and is deserving of you. It's certainly a winding road that offers a lot of bumps and pit stops, laughter and tears, but most certainly worth the effort. The reward at the end is priceless. Who knows if Halifax's road is just as winding, but I can't wait to find out.
From the depths of my soul, please accept my sincerest thanks for the past year and a half of memories and for allowing me to share in my experiences in this wonderful world of dating. I wish all of my fellow singles continued success and of course, I wish you lots of laughter and love.
To those I have loved and lost, I live with no regrets. You all became part of who I am and who I will be. May you find what you're looking for and always remember how important you were to me.
I may soon be laying my head on a different pillow at night, but Moncton will always be my soft place to land. It will always be home.
E-mail Jennifer Batog at jennifer_batog@hotmail.com.
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