Laugh As The Sun

I get so nervous when the spirits hide
I can’t wait until that bright light shines, yeah
Never did run, never did hide,
Waitin’ to see your bright light shine.
We’ll wait ‘til the mornin’ comes,
We’ll laugh as the sun.
Bright and loud, ha, ha, ha!

Yes we’ll laugh as the sun,
Laugh as the sun,
And we’re gonna laugh as the sun,
Laugh as the sun

- "Laugh As The Sun", Rusted Root

Yay! Finally, I have a plan! I have been offered a job as Development Assistant at Sea Shepherd! Everything worked out perfectly, and now it seemed perfectly ridiculous that I would have worried at all. Who, me? Worry? Nooo….never.

The interview was awesome, beginning with a beautiful flight where the  only thing visible above the clouds was the always stunning Olympic Mountains. Friday Harbor was gray, foggy, and a bit chilly when I arrived, but it quickly burned off and turned into a perfect blue sky. My new boss, Michael, picked me up in a dusty Astrovan that he explained is the company van used to haul around the nine dogs that come to the office with their owners every day. Nine dogs?? Awesome! Make that ten, I told him.

The offices are located on eight wooded acres that are fenced in. We drove in and were instantly surrounded by a mob of dogs – small dogs, humongous dogs, deaf dogs, old dogs. Luckily, as I had treats in my hand, they were all also very friendly dogs. After a quick tour of the property, which also includes the founder’s home, office, and a trailer used for new staff members to stay in while looking for housing, we went to the main offices. Inside about six staff members are working, laughing, eating Boca burgers, and fighting to save marine wildlife. Hot damn! I just stumbled upon my own little slice of heaven.                                                                                          

The interview itself was very informal, mostly just chatting with Michael and learning more about Sea Shepherd. They need someone who likes to do graphic design to work on their newsletter, and I happily volunteered myself for that job. Mostly I will be assisting Michael, the Development Director, in the various fundraising tasks such as researching donors, looking for grants, organizing events, and sending thank you cards. There is also the possibility of going on an expedition with one of the Sea Shepherd vessels. They travel to places like the Artic, the Galapagos Islands, and Australia in order to get in between and disrupt illegal whaling, sealing, or fishing. This is where my photography skills could possibly be used. Awesome!

The job pays about $30,000 per year, which is awesome. It also has medical and dental benefits, which is very awesome. It is my dream job! Yay!

So, in the midst of organizing Raise the Roof (which is on Friday), now I am thinking about wrapping up all of the projects I have been working on over the past two years during the week after this one. Not to mention that I totally spaced the quarterly newsletter and it will now be published a few weeks late – assuming I can get it done next week. Am I worried? Hell no. It will all work out.

I’m starting to look at housing in Friday Harbor. It’s relatively expensive, but I’m sticking to the lower end of things and hopefully I can find something decent. Am I worried? Hell no! It will all work out, and I will be laughing as the sun all the way to my island paradise.

Laugh as the sun,

Bright and loud, ha, ha, ha!