1981-1982 While in college, I came to meet Michael Leslie, who had just transferred from Saint Mary’s university in Halifax to come to Saint John so that he might learn the machinist trade. We shared an apartment for less than eight months but came to know him as a very intelligent and generous person. He never once spoke about his many accomplishments, which I came to learn in later years were many indeed.
Michael left the machinist program early to take up a job in Chatham NB and left paying his portion of both May and June’s rent. In visiting him at his home in Douglastown the following year, I learned he had just been involved in a truck accident in northern New Brunswick and lost his life. I have always believed that Michael left this world because he had accomplished a lifetime of accomplishments in less than twenty-two years. Ever since this event took place, at least twice a year something happens that proves he is still present among us.
1999 November 27, 1999 (1:00 PM) had not been a particularly good day for me. I was filled with thoughts of a current lost friendship and went for a car drive. While driving I communicated with God and Michael saying how I appreciated their presence and how I was struggling to see who I really was. Upon my return I decided to go to work for about an hour.
(2:30 PM) Sitting at my desk, I could hear the Saturday business sales representative taking calls from customers but with years of working in this environment, I have learned to block all conversations taking place less than twenty feet from me. That is until the next one comes in, I sense that this call is different and become more convinced has I feel the business service representative feeling nervous about the questions being asked.
It is not typical for business service representatives to try and get an account manager to help with the customer on the line, this case was different. The customer had questions pertaining to functionality offered through our e-commerce suite of services, and for a BSR, these can still be somewhat overwhelming. Putting the customer on hold, she turns to me, and I immediately instruct her to transfer the call to me.
Upon spending no more than ten minutes with the client, I prepare in obtaining contact information required so that I might forward him more detailed information on Monday.
I ask him for his name, and he gives me his last name as being “Leslie”. He then makes a comment that he will be working on this project with relatives residing on the Miramichi. I must know, I think to myself. I then ask him if he is related to Michael? And he responds saying, Michael was my cousin! How do you know him? he asked. I went to school with him in Saint John many years ago. We spoke about what had happened to Michael with a promise that I would be faxing him the promised information within a couple of days.
I proceeded for home knowing once more that he is still with all of us. Thank you, Michael, for this latest miracle and for showing me yet another sign.
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