Round 1: A New Beginning?
The movers loaded the last few boxes onto the truck as I took one last look at what was once my house on Brady Street in Niagara Falls.
It was bitter-sweet.
One door was closing but another one, with more opportunities, was opening.
I had been working at the sports complex on Biggar Road for just over two years. Then, it all crumbled. A memo was sent around to all of the staff announcing the permanent closure of the entire facility. Apparently, there was just not enough demand for such a huge facility in rural Niagara Falls and they could just not make a profit. Actually, for the two years, they were operating, they were operating in the red...
...and so came to an abrupt end my job of coaching boxers.
I had decided that I no longer wanted to live in Niagara Falls. I sold my house, which I bought two years previous for 366 thousand. Since I had fixed it up and kept it nice I was able to sell it for 400 thousand. I decided to start a new life in Toronto, so I rented a condo in Forest Hill. A couple-thousand plus per month. It isn't forever. Just until I can find something better (less expensive).
Remember Francine? We were co-workers at the complex. She got married just a couple of months ago. It was shortly after that she found out that she would be losing her job. She and her husband have since moved back to Jamaica.
I am not sure what happened to that complex. I know they auctioned off all of the stuff from inside. I think the building is still up for sale and I think they are going to have a hard time selling a building that big.
By-the-way, I picked up a few good deals at that auction.
I bought the ring. I don't know why, but I bought the boxing ring from my boxing studio. I think I got a good deal. 300 dollars. They threw in the base, canvas, ropes, corner pads, everything for three-hundred. You can't get a ring for less than a thousand, not even a used one.
That's not all. I got 33 soccer balls, 21 basketballs, 14 footballs, 24 golf balls, and 51 tennis balls for 132 dollars.
I actually out-bid a non-profit boys and girls club, and I'm sure they needed that equipment a lot more than I.
I've got a lot of balls.
