Ottawa or Bust

So, I get on the plane in Edmonton this morning and I end up in a window seat (in120 km/hr winds, not the best thing for someone like me) and my seat mate sits down and starts arranging his ear buds and I start arranging my Kindle "Shackleton" book.  He looks at me and says "So, are you heading to Montreal or Ottawa?".  I reply that I'm heading through Ottawa on the way to Ghana (much more interesting) and he replies "CCA??".  I'm sitting beside Garth (Gus) Norrie, the (104 days retired) Chief Governance and Risk Officer for Synergy Credit Union in Lloydminster!  I'm not sure how long the flight was, maybe 3 maybe 4 hours, but Gus and I talked the entire time, he was in Ghana in 2005 and has so many stories to tell!  It made my day having him in the seat beside me!  I kind of (maybe) understand that I CAN make a difference in a few days....something that has been making me quite anxious.

We arrived in Ottawa and Gus said we should what at the airport for Betty (recently retired from Tisdale CU in SK) and we got a "twofer" when Betty showed up with Audrey Reynolds, the Manager of Finance, Compliance & Support for the Foam Lake (SK) CU!  What fun meeting these people and HUGS!  Everyone is hugging because, well, it's like we know each other already!

We had a fantastic dinner at Al's Steakhouse in Ottawa (we know that beef will not be on the menu in a couple of days).   Leona Fleck (a coach from 2013 Ghana), Sharlet (from Victoria, need to know more about her), and the group had a wonderful steak dinner (perhaps to make up for what is to come).  Then Audrey, Gus and Graham Boulding (Small Business Specialist with VanCity) hit a pub for a nightcap and some deep discussions on the defined benefit/defined contribution pension plans for CU employees in BC (WOW).

Best part ever, Nancy, my partner in crime for the adventure, is truly a gem!  We met tonight in the lobby of the hotel and she is all smiles (infectious smiles!) and she is looking forward to an adventure like no other!  Friends, family, she is a nurse (OK, not for 15 year, but what's changed really?).  She says she will be able to identify (still) anything serious and recommend where to go (a hospital) should something happen to me (or her), can't wait for this adventure to begin!  She is the Manager of Operations at Bulkley Valley CU in Smithers, BC and has been hard at work for extended hours (for weeks!) making sure her duties are accomplished during her hiatus!   Nancy and I have found an affinity in Pinot Grigio therefore we are now forever bonded.

One last note, "forever bonded" has a whole new meaning tonight.  I sat at a table with seven other CU professionals, all with the same end goal in mind.  It wasn't targets, it wasn't profits, it was contributing to our international cooperative community.  You cannot imagine the feeling to look around the table and understand that every person sitting there has the same goal in mind....to make a difference.  Powerful.

Tomorrow, first day of training at CCA!  Cannot wait!