Endings and beginnings
Hello, Internet, it’s Friday, and I don’t really know what to feel right now.
Ok, first, read this public service announcement. Then come back and the stuff I’m saying will make sense.
So, let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time (Mother’s Day weekend, 2007), I graduated from university. And the head of the Faculty of Fine Arts came up to me – and my parents – and asked if I was planning on moving back to Ontario. I said something along the lines of “well, yeah… but who knows?” and then he said something extremely cryptic about it maybe being a good idea to stick around the province for a little while.
Two weeks later, the department secretary called and gave me the name and phone number of Zita Cobb, about whom I knew nothing except that I was to call her RIGHT AWAY. So I did. It was a strange conversation. Or, I thought it was, until I realized that Zita has conversations like this all the time. It went like this:
Z (answering phone): Hello?
S: Um, hi, my name’s Sharon King-Campbell… and (department head) told me I should call you…
Z: Oh, good. Let’s have lunch. Are you free the day after tomorrow?
S: …yes?
Z: Good. Do you like The Sprout?
S: Yes.
Z: Excellent. I’ll meet you there at 1.
S: Ok.
Z: See you then. Bye.
(click)
So, we met at The Sprout and ate pad thai and she told me about Fogo Island (which I had only heard about I’se The B’y form), and this big church that seats 1000 and would I maybe want to come see the island and while we’re at it did I want to come to England with her to hang out with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Arts Centre English Theatre?
I felt like the moon had just landed in my lap.
And then I was brought on the longest, most amazing job interview of all-time, involving a trans-Atlantic flight, some of the best theatre I’ve ever seen, a walk up St. Paul’s Cathedral, and then a trip to Fogo Island, where I met Tony Cobb, Pete & Margaret Decker, and several other incredible people to whom I said goodbye today.
I was 22. I was, as Pete said yesterday, “a little girl.”
Today was my last day of the job that resulted from that meeting and that hilarious job interview/trip. The theatre company that resulted from it has allowed me to work with some of the most incredible people in this province.
I am grateful, on the verge of tears, and unbelievably excited all at once. I don’t really know what’s coming next, but I’m looking forward to finding out.
Can’t wait to hear about your next projects. Upwards and onwards!
Congratulations, Sharon! You’ve given much to your adoptive province. All us CFAs can only hope to contribute as much!
G