I thought I hadn't written in almost a year, so I was surprised to see my last post was in February. But so much has changed since that post. My whole life has changed. So, in case anyone was wondering, here is what has happened:
- 6 vet school rejections (although I received most of them before February)
- notification of being put on the waiting list for one vet school
- 2 acceptances to vet schools
- 1 new job, with an amazing boss, who has since left
- 2 dog deaths
- brother moving
But tonight I dont really want to write about vet school or really my life. I want to write about something that has happened tangently to my life. I want to write a story that isnt really mine to tell, but on the other hand I dont know that its being told anywhere else, so why not. And the story has had an impact on my life, even though I havent experienced it. Who knows how far it will impact me.
Growing up I heard the stories of how my dad was a single dad to my brothers. I heard about the awful things that his ex did and in many ways, I am living proof that he got through them and is a better person because of them. When I started my new job in February I met a man who seemed to be going through many of the same struggles that I heard stories of growing up. The difference: this man had 4 children, 2 girls (the oldest and youngest) and 2 boys (the middle kids). He had an ex who was no good, who had tried to commit suicide more than once. This woman would set times to visit the kids and then come up with shitty excuses as to why she couldnt make it. She spent her money on alcohol rather than paying her child support. Basically she is a deadbeat and doesnt even deserve to see her children. But this man, lets call him A, tried to make it so that she could have a relationship with her kids. He kind of bent over backwards for her. Not because he wanted to see her more, no their relationship was done and over (she realized she was gay) but he wanted to do the right thing for the kids. The number one thing that I learned about this man was that though he was a manager, a man responsible for a store succeeding, he was a father first. His kids were his number one priority, always. Who cant admire that? Seriously. A dad who would do anything for his kids is probably one of the most attractive things in this world. So when the time came that he could no longer afford the childcare that his kids needed while he worked, he did the only thing he knew to do, turn in his resignation. He had to move home, closer to his parents, to his family, so that he could continue to provide for his kids. He made the comment to me that his childcare cost or was going to cost more a month than his house payment and his car payment combined. Our district manager is a schmuck and wasnt going to allow him to transfer, so he had to resign. But then the universe, or some would say god, had a better idea. The person who is the district manager for the store that is by A's parents house called and asked if he was interested in being a manager for her, for that store. Things moved fast after that. Hes been gone for just over a month now and I feel his loss every day- even though I talk to him nearly every day.
A is not just a father, though that is clearly his most important role. He is a friend, a manager and someone who I look up to. If and when I own a clinic or my own business I hope that I can be half the manager that he is, because he is the best superior I have ever had.
I dont know why he stayed with his ex for so long, especially since he told me that he knew 2 years into the marriage that he had to worry about her leaving him for a woman sooner than she had to worry about him leaving her for another woman. Or why he had 4 children with her. But I do know that his 4 children are very lucky to have him as a father. And that he is one hell of a man, and I hope that even if he says he doesnt ever want to get married again, he finds happiness and contentment. I also hope that I can continue to call him a friend, because hes a really great one!
