Yesterday, I punched in for my veterinary clinic job that I had been with since last June. I considered it a special job since I had left the authoritarian grasp of call center life before. I considered it home, even with various imperfections (such as crazy customers in a midlife crisis). But I got more work at my reporting gig and this was a lucrative opportunity.
I asked my manager, Anna, if I could speak with her privately. My mouth was almost dry to the point of being its own Mojave Desert. I didn't want to leave so soon, but it was the best decision for me moving forward. I needed to focus on my writing and crafting an evolving brand for hockey fans.
"Anna, I know I said I would be done by the end of August. But I was given an opportunity that I simply couldn't pass up. Therefore, I'm putting my two weeks notice in."
Luckily, my manager understood and said this was something I wanted to focus on. It was a peaceful transition that only took a minute. In the end, it felt like having a big weight lifted off your shoulders. But for Mark Stone and the Vegas Golden Knights, it took two weeks to get the Minnesota Wild off their backs.
The art of moving on and letting go, Vegas Golden Knights edition
The Golden Knights were in a dogfight against the Minnesota Wild in the first round. There was doubt and uncertainty among the faithful about whether the boys could take care of business.
"Is this team washed?"
"Do they EVEN care?"
Such questions loomed over a group of Stanley Cup favorites. Take your pick among the various negative emotions felt throughout Las Vegas. You could name disappointment, anger, and shock, to name a few.
Luckily, the gang prevailed in six games thanks to a pair of overtime winners. Stanley Cup winners tend to dig deep and pull out a proverbial rabbit from a hat to win a series. That's what it took for the Golden Knights to defeat the pesky Minnesota Wild.
But will it result in a Stanley Cup? Stay tuned. In the meantime, their next focus will be on a greater foe: The Edmonton Oilers. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are coming and it'll be a bigger test than the one before.
However, the Golden Knights shouldn't sweat this too much if they have strong performances from their superstars. That includes Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, two players who took four games to get going in the previous series. After all, there's an air of familiarity with this one. The only difference is that it doesn't involve cute dogs and cats.