Part Five of Into The Looking Glass… (Click here for Part One), which is a look back at where I’ve come from as both a person and a writer. I’ve been through many trials in my days, however I will leave full disclosure for perhaps a professional autobiography if I manage to make it as a writer and worm my way into media somehow. For now, enjoy my path, picking up as I make the move across Canada from Nova Scotia to Alberta.

After we decided to move to Alberta, I found myself going up a month ahead of time to get things prepared for when my girlfriend got there. As I made the move to a place I had never been before, I met up with my best friend and it was like no time had passed. We got along perfectly right off the bat and I began venturing out into the city looking for jobs and just scouting the territory. Edmonton is a huge city and I managed to get lost downtown fairly quickly. However as the month went on I felt extremely energetic and cheerful. I had never felt so alive! Perhaps it was because I had moved to a new city, perhaps it was because I was reunited with my best friend. I brushed it all off and continued about my business.

I then decided to catch a bus and head to the self proclaimed “Greatest Indoor Show On Earth”. As I arrived at the West Edmonton Mall, I found myself in awe of it’s sheer size. As I headed off the bus I simply followed the crowd into the closest entryway. I was immediately shocked as I saw what seemed to be a llama just standing all on its own in the middle of this huge mall. As I got closer, I did see a short person holding onto it’s collar but it still unnerved me. Why was a llama here? As I marched around the mall, I found out why. It had a petting zoo, and that wasn’t even the best attraction. The mall had a plethora of sights and even an indoor amusement park! I had to work in here, and I applied at HMV.

Now when I first applied, the guy hiring me took a look at my resume and asked me if I wanted to do the interview now. I needed a job so I agreed, and shortly thereafter had a shift scheduled for the next week. Edmonton was definitely looking up. I wouldn’t be doing anything too special, just working in the receiving area. I thanked him for the opportunity and continued on my way around the mall where I met two mall staff walking a penguin, the llama again and hung out around the wave pool and the skating rink for a bit. I didn’t even mention the pirate ship, but who needs to, right?

As I started at HMV I found myself complaining a lot, I was just getting to know these people and they were taking notice of how unhappy I must have been back in Nova Scotia. It wasn’t until my girlfriend arrived in Edmonton that I began to believe them. Even my best friend said he watched my batteries drain after she arrived. I stuck up for my relationship and continued on in complete denial of what was all too true. I was depressed when I was home, however when I was at work I was pretty much whistling while I worked. HMV liked the work I was doing and I was offered a promotion shortly into my career there. I was taken aback, but after my previous experience in management with EB Games, I was very cautious. Not every company will treat their managers well.

As the days wore on, so did my patience and eventually the household I was living in had to move. We almost lost someone during the winter as we found the house had no heating in the basement, so that meant we had to leave before we signed another lease. We up and moved the ship that was our little group to another part of the city. During this time I took on a supervisory role at HMV and I was really enjoying it. The people I worked with were great fun, and I loved the challenges the job presented me. As I flourished at work, I would do anything not to go home. I worked extra hours, hung around the mall and generally just seemed to be avoiding my girlfriend. My best friend told me that it was over between my girlfriend and I, but I still wanted to try and work things out.

Suddenly Christmases passed and it was over a year later. I found myself looking around and hanging out with anyone who wasn’t my girlfriend. Eventually, I had to give in. I had been sleeping on the couch as her and I couldn’t talk about our day because it was becoming a heated argument. After much discussion, I decided I had tried hard enough and it seemed she wouldn’t try more. It was always “this time I will” and I couldn’t hear it any more. I decided we should end it, and try and be friends. Being friends with your ex is near impossible, so don’t bother. I helped her find a place, helped her move out, helped her buy two kittens and drove her to get them checked up at the vets. But eventually, I began to feel that she was still using me and decided to sever all ties. It’s hard when a person has been in your life for several years, you still care about them, but the feeling has completely changed.

Lucky for me, my friends were right by my side and even though I had asked for it, it was still very hard. HMV however had a new plan for me. Within a very short time frame after that I had a whole other world of concerns to deal with as I transferred to another store where I was to be the Manager. I loved the store, the dynamic, the staff and the fact that it was mine! It felt good to be in control again and I did very well as a store manager. Also, thanks to HMV I met my current lady friend, and many great friends I still keep in touch with to this day.

I’ll leave you with that for now, and soon you’ll find out where I am now and why I’m there! I’m also going to talk about the dramatic change in cultures and things I’ve found crazy or odd coming from another country! Thanks for reading and if you have any comments feel free to email me or leave them below!