The Beginning of The Chaos
After what was one of the best years of my life, post pandemic and after traveling to California, Cuba, Jamaica, NYC and lastly Halifax, NS I returned home the 3rd week of August '22 only to find out that the salon I had been operating my business out of for the past 8 years would no longer be available to me as of the end of the month. I ran a very small but successful aesthetics business in the Beaches, Toronto for 12 years.
I had literally a week to get my shit together and to figure out my next move! Earlier on that summer, a girlfriend of mine at the time had introduced me to a guy who owned a hair salon in the same area he had space he was willing to rent out. I knew that my time at the location I was at was going to come to an end at some point that year. I just didn’t expect it to happen when it did or for it to be as abrupt as it was
The space was tight, I wasn’t overly interested in committing or making the switch. But after finding out late August and with short notice that I would be without a salon to take care of my clients, I revisited that option. We had made an arrangement. I fixed up that tiny space, it was cute, it was comfy but it wasn’t great. Business by now was on and off, I was only working in the salon a few days a week anyway, so I rolled with it.
I was however extremely motivated, sitting around just wasn’t an option for me. I was interested in a change and applying my skill set (which over the years of running a business had become quite extensive) in a different setting, change was about. I was thinking to myself that I have so many transferable skills, what is it that “I would like” to do in my spare time? I am a people person and so I decided to find something in a customer service or sales position, a position that would also be beneficial for me.
I went downtown the 1st week of September with my CV in hand and walked straight into Big Bag. I asked the sales girl for the manager; she went to the back and got her for me. We chatted briefly and I went on my way. I walked over to the Keg, I thought I love eating at the Keg! So let’s go check out a part-time hostess position there. I'd work 4-8 hours a week seating guests, looking pretty, still downtown and get 50% off my food whoot…win win! I walked in and again asked for the manager, he wasn’t available. I went home. I did have intentions on going back there to try to get in to speak with the manager once again, but it never happened.
A couple of days later Big Bag had called me for a telephone interview, then an in person interview and then well, I got the job! Whoo Hoo 50-90% off employee discount I was happy as fuck!! So for 2-3 days a week I worked on the floor selling designer handbags and I fuckin’ loved it! I had the clothes, the style and a look that made my job easy peasy and fun! I loved getting dressed up for my shift and going downtown to do my thing, representing a brand that at the time, thought I could get behind. It also got me out of the Beaches and that change of scenery for me was long overdue!
I was still seeing clients in the salon 2-3 days a week and by this point I was working for Big Bag 2-3 even 4 days a week at times. I was thriving in that environment! I have the gift of gab and a look that made people want to talk to me. I was the type of person you wanted to sell you a designer handbag and I sold above and beyond their and my expectations.
Everything was going great from September through to December after that blip that had occurred in August. End of December rolled around and it was time for my follow up visit with my “new” cardiologist downtown at Toronto General Hospital. I was born with a very rare heart condition; Quadracuspid which basically means that I was born with four valves instead of three and my fourth valve was slightly leaking. This was discovered in 2008 and I was monitored every 1-2 years over the years. Not so much or actually even at all during the pandemic. I always knew that one day my leaky valve would have to be replaced however, my cardiologist at the time and throughout the years reassured me that it was a very simple, noninvasive procedure, that I would be in and out and not to worry about anything having to be done until way later on in life like when I was in my 60’s or 70’s. So I didn’t worry about it, I didn't even really think about it.
I met my new cardiologist in late December and during that visit she told me that the situation with my leaky valve had progressed and was now regurgitating and it wasn't slight, mild or even moderate, but that it was severe and that it was go time for open heart surgery.
I was like huh!? I was 51. My entire world shook!
