One step closer

I received my permit for entry into Canada yesterday. It came much quicker than I was expecting. I think in this case, procrastination paid off. Sounds like the permit office was swamped last month and it was taking a while for some of the other hikers to receive their permits. Sending it in behind the herd seems to have allowed a speedy return.

Yesterday, I told the last of the families I work with that I was leaving at the end of the month. I work with autistic kids as a behavior therapist, three of the families I have been with for almost two years now. I've been really worried how the families would react. It's been a mixed bag, a couple of the families seemed OK, one family has been quite upset, yesterday's family seemed happy which was a relief! I haven't really felt myself the last month or so, and I think the kids I work with have picked up on it. There's something different about actually vocalizing "I'm leaving" than just thinking about it in my mind. It becomes more real. More permanent. I talked to one of the kids I've been with for about two years who has a pretty good understanding of what's going on around him, and tried to explain to him that I was leaving and what I was going to be doing. It was the first time, this time around, I really felt the sting that comes with a goodbye. Thankfully, he just kind of looked at me and said, "Well, when you leave you can buy me an Ultimate Godzilla 2010 toy as a goodbye gift!"