I am freaking out in a very good way! I've had a hopeful little idea in my mind for a while and now it's actually coming to fruition. A lady from a wildlife center* just returned my phone call and I am going out there on Tuesday to begin volunteering! I can't wait! I am feeling so hyper and eager with anticipation. The woman I spoke with was quite friendly and nice and I think I managed to sound calm and professional on the phone (which is amazing, because in my head my thoughts sounded like, "Eeeeeeeee!"). It was funny though - in the midst of telling her my background with animal work, I somehow completely forgot to mention that I did all that work SO THAT I could get a job working with animals for the rest of my life. Well, and because I love it, too! Heh. Maybe she picked that up, I don't know. I'm sure I'll be talking to her again, so we can chat about career goals, etc, another time. Anyway, she told me that beginning volunteers do a lot of the raking, sweeping, poop cleaning, and weed pulling, and I am a-okay with that. I was fully expecting it, too. But then she said I'll still be around the animals and can eventually work up to working with them, too. I... This is so. freaking. great!

I'm also excited about another place I might like to start volunteering, too. It's a position having to do with animal education, for which I have all the qualifications. Last night I was reading about it, feeling very excited at the idea of working with kids again and helping with the various children's programs whatever way I could.

Seeing as how I have no idea how much work will be involved in either position, or in the upcoming school quarter, I think I'll stick with school and the little zoo (maybe that'll be its nickname in this journal - Little Zoo!), and go from there.

I'm really happy these opportunities are available. It's like my animal career is a bit more within reach when I'm involved with these kinds of facilities.

This time, I'll be really careful. I will concentrate on wherever I'm at and not let various things drag my attention away from what I truly want to do. I loved working at the wildlife center up north, but I let my job there become my only position, when I really loved volunteering at the wildlife hospital, too. And I loved my job, but in a way, I wish I'd brushed off other jobs and concentrated on getting back to the hospital. Or that I'd found a way to just do it all. The longer I stayed away from the hospital, the more embarrassed I felt to go back, and when it came down to it, I never did. Other jobs and responsibilities took precedence, and looking back, I know that was a mistake. I probably could have balanced things better if I'd tried hard enough.

But I have learned! And I'm really grateful for the opportunity to try again, to explore a new place and new responsibilities and really make the most of it.

Wow. I'm going to be working with animals again. God, that is SUCH a good feeling!

*Special thanks to Kirsten for letting me know about this place! Thanks, K!!