Chapter 41 - Saleing the River of Life to Some Clarity (2017-2018)

Eric was presented with a surprise upon returning to Edmonton after his September birthday trip to Yellowknife with his father David; resting his head on his pillow at home in the late afternoon a movement caught his eye, startled, Eric sat up and saw a red bug crawling across his pillow. A quick online search confirmed his suspicions: bed bugs!

The research indicated that for Eric to see them, they were serious, and not something he brought back from his trip, but something that had been amassing for a while. So that night Eric spent the night at his father’s house and started on the mission to eliminate the pests.

This mission was a major undertaking, for not only did he have to move all furniture from the walls for the exterminators, while the basement was under some renovations, but to get his tenants on board to have their rooms treated.

Agnes and Matt, Eric’s main floor tenants, were happy to oblige, though they had to find a place for their cats for the day. Eric’s basement tenant, Jesse, asked why his room had to be done if the bed bugs were only on the main floor. Eric, as landlord, informed Jesse that the bed bugs could move there, and that he didn’t want any in his house. A reasonably cordial disagreement between Eric and Jesse over the bed bugs resulted in Eric offering Jesse to move out short of the rental agreement without any financial penalty - which Jesse took.

 

With the bed bugs dealt a fatal blow, Eric was able to return to old and new adventures.

 

On the general renovation front, Eric cleared out decomposing boxes of old high school and university notes that were stored in his outdoor shed for close to a decade. ATCO Gas replaced his gas meter, for one they could remotely read and no longer have to enter his back yard. Eric also filed the official paperwork for the basement renovations; which included previously worked on bathroom, previously moved furnace, new walls on half the basement that required moving an electrical panel and rewiring that half of the basement. Eric passed on some of the renovation work to family handyman and crafts-person Terry.

A new adventure awaited Eric in the ocean of work and career. Prior to his trip to Yellowknife Eric had an interview with Spectrum Educational Supplies (Spectrum) to be the Western Canada Robotic Sales Specialist. Hedging his bets, Eric did not give up on his substitute teaching work. On his first day of subbing for Elk Island Public Schools, while supervising a computers & coding high school class, he received the job offer from Spectrum. The next few days he reviewed the contract, discussed it with people he trusted, clarified points he was uncertain on with Wayne Langdon (his to be boss), and asked for leave of absence from Elk Island Public Schools and Edmonton Public Schools.

 

Eric’s work as a sales representative started in early October with a training trip to Newmarket Ontario, part of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Eric learned a lot from his colleagues, especially Kristin the national robotics sales specialist (along with other duties), and enjoyed his time there. A brief trip to Ottawa for Thanksgiving with his Gramma Jean Matheson rounded out his eastbound trip.

Back in Alberta, Eric was soon on the road to Calgary to meet and get materials from his closest, geographically, colleague Lori (general sales representative for Alberta). Then assisting in his first convention in Edmonton with Lori. Soon off to Vancouver to meet another colleague, Kim (general sales representative for BC), and work a large convention with Wayne, Kristin, and Kim, as well as a chance to meet up with a few friends in Vancouver (Amanda, Mat, Shawna). Next was a convention and work in Saskatoon to meet and work with Colin, the general sales representative for Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Followed by yet more work with Lori in Calgary and a convention in Banff. By Christmas time Eric was beginning to get the hang of sales both in person to various clients (like schools, museums, libraries) and at conventions, as well as the paperwork of fine tuning the sale based on requirements of the clients.

 

Christmas gave for a bit of a break from work. Not only sales with Spectrum but the occasional tutoring with Lights On Mediated Learning Centre - when not out of town. As well as a break from the ongoing renovations in the basement.

Christmas and New Years was spent with family in Belgium: Sister Samara, brother-in-law Geert, nephew Sebastian, niece Klara, Geert’s family. David, Eric’s and Samara’s father, also visited - for a longer stay than Eric.

Back in Edmonton, Eric continued with his robotic sales, taking the opportunity while volunteering at the FIRST Lego League robotics competition to introduce himself to the organizers and formalize the connection. Next was Spectrum’s national sales meetings in Newmarket, Ontario, where Eric came down with the flu, making the trip home uncomfortable. A little rest and Eric was back at traveling and meeting clients. First a conference in Edmonton, then introducing Wayne to some clients in Edmonton, followed by conference in Calgary, then meeting clients in the Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas of BC (Vancouver, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Hope), then back to Edmonton with conference and work there.

 

As spring began, change was in the wind. Eric’s basement renovations were progressing smoothly, thanks to Terry. A new stacking washer and dryer were installed, heralding the approach of completion of the renovations. Eric also took the opportunity to consolidate a number of loans into his mortgage.

The biggest change however came in work. Through his time working with Spectrum Eric was working from home. His nearest colleague was in Calgary. Eric focused on work to the best of his abilities, yet always felt this sense of uncertainty; was he doing the job correctly? Was he doing enough? What more should he be doing? Despite reassurances, guidance, and advice from colleagues, Eric continued to feel uneasy. Eventually he managed to contribute some of this to a change that happened in September: At his hiring interview he was informed that the CEO of the parent company wanted to work on client relationships, when Eric was hired the CEO of the parent company had changed, and now the focus was profits; Eric had always been skeptical of his ability to succeed in sales for profit. This uncertainty in Eric lead him to look back at teaching.

On a sales trip with Wayne and Kim around the Okanagan Valley, BC, Eric got word from NorQuest College about teaching spring courses. The same day, Wayne informed Eric he had broken some sales records for the month of March, and well on the way to meet or exceed for the year. With a heavy heart, Eric informed Wayne of his decision, that his heart felt more at home teaching, but was willing to stay on to do some sales orders until a replacement was found. Wayne respected Eric’s decision and agreed to keep him on in a diminished role.

 

After that emotional day, and wrapping up work in the Okanangan, Eric took some personal time to visit friends in the area: Tolka in Kamloops and caught up with his old elementary school friend Nathaniel in Kelwona. Eric hadn’t seen Nathaniel for over 20 years.

 

May and June were busy for Eric. He was teaching math at NorQuest College, wrapping up work with Spectrum Educational Supplies, tutoring with Lights on Mediated Learning Centre, beginning to get ads out for his available rooms (having only Agnes and Mat as tenants since September), and continuing to socialize when he could. Home improvements included the install of a modern central vacuum (the old one was, as Eric called it, the Betamax version - none of the piping was consistent with modern vacuums, so in the basement renovations it was all re-piped), an upgrade to the alarm system, and quotes for new exterior doors.

While working at Spectrum, Eric had informed Gerald, with Metro Continuing Education, that it would not be possible to teach the Lego Robotics Summer Camp. Gerald made the decision to cut the program, since Eric was the robotics instructor, and in previous conversations it was about time to change up the program. This gave Eric free time in July to catch his breath and to actually feel prepared to enjoy the Fringe come August.

August brought a busy change-filled time for Eric. Samara and family came to visit, Eric’s basement bathroom finally got the final plumbing installed (working toilet and sink, shower still missing glass), Eric hosted two artists for the Fringe, Spectrum work items were officially returned as a new robotics sales representative was hired, Eric accepted an evening teaching position with NorQuest College, and got new/used furniture: family friend Robin’s old futon for Eric’s main basement room; the single bed at Eric’s father’s place that matched one Eric already had (and part of a bunk bed set from his Mom’s childhood) was returned for the newly renovated basement room, this triggered Eric to return the antique 3/4 bed to his father as replacement and then to get his own new double bed.

As Eric was looking into where to go for his annual trip, about one week before his birthday, he got a call mid-afternoon from Lyndi, with David Thomas King School, Edmonton Public Schools. She asked Eric to come for an interview that day for a part time teaching position in the junior high part of the elementary-junior high school. Eric was surprised, and rushed to get ready and make the interview. It went fast, and Eric felt overwhelmed by the end of the interview, with a job offer in hand. That night he thought about the job, and despite some uncertainties, having to do with this being his first time teaching junior high full-time for a whole year, he decided to take the job. This meant that he spent his birthday teaching on the first day of classes; truly a new adventure.