It is finished
Today is a day I thought might never come.
Today is my last day at Molecular Probes, my workplace and personal Purgatory for the last five years.
It is hard to reflect back on the last five years without shaking my head in amazement that I have made it to this day. When I think about the five managers I have outlasted, including one who was my personal nemesis, it makes me laugh - not hysterically, as I once did, but a chuckle of satisfaction at the fulfillment of a mantra that kept me going during the dark times: "I can outlast [manager]." And I did. Yet somehow when I pictured this day, the last day of my employment at this company, I always imagined the (former) head of HR standing next to my lab bench flanked by security guards and holding a big cardboard box with my name on it. I outlasted her too, and yesterday I nonchalantly packed out almost all of the evidence of my employment at Probes. I think I even whistled.
It is difficult to describe how I feel at this moment, even to myself. Relief is probably the closest, coupled with a large measure of lingering resentment and outright animosity for the mistreatment I endured here over the years and even up until the last few days of my employment. But all that will be gone soon. I know that the rose-colored glasses will soon be pulled over my mind's eye, and this place won't seem so bad after all. But somewhere deep inside, I'll always remember.
So. If you've read this far, you might be wondering, So, if you're leaving your job, what's next? Even if you weren't, I'll tell you.
Tonight, Arwyn defends her PhD thesis. In two weeks, we move to Vermont, where she has accepted an assistant professor position at Norwich University. We will live in Montpelier, where we have a house rented and waiting for us. I will busy myself with taking care of our three-month-old son and teaching at Norwich on a part-time basis. I hope also to explore New England and apply myself to writing, as I have long wanted to do.
And so, our time in Eugene, and the Northwest, draws near to its end.
To those who have had a positive impact on my life - I thank you.
To those who we leave behind - we shall return.
To those who hold a place in my heart... I shall not let you go.
Today is my last day at Molecular Probes, my workplace and personal Purgatory for the last five years.
It is hard to reflect back on the last five years without shaking my head in amazement that I have made it to this day. When I think about the five managers I have outlasted, including one who was my personal nemesis, it makes me laugh - not hysterically, as I once did, but a chuckle of satisfaction at the fulfillment of a mantra that kept me going during the dark times: "I can outlast [manager]." And I did. Yet somehow when I pictured this day, the last day of my employment at this company, I always imagined the (former) head of HR standing next to my lab bench flanked by security guards and holding a big cardboard box with my name on it. I outlasted her too, and yesterday I nonchalantly packed out almost all of the evidence of my employment at Probes. I think I even whistled.
It is difficult to describe how I feel at this moment, even to myself. Relief is probably the closest, coupled with a large measure of lingering resentment and outright animosity for the mistreatment I endured here over the years and even up until the last few days of my employment. But all that will be gone soon. I know that the rose-colored glasses will soon be pulled over my mind's eye, and this place won't seem so bad after all. But somewhere deep inside, I'll always remember.
So. If you've read this far, you might be wondering, So, if you're leaving your job, what's next? Even if you weren't, I'll tell you.
Tonight, Arwyn defends her PhD thesis. In two weeks, we move to Vermont, where she has accepted an assistant professor position at Norwich University. We will live in Montpelier, where we have a house rented and waiting for us. I will busy myself with taking care of our three-month-old son and teaching at Norwich on a part-time basis. I hope also to explore New England and apply myself to writing, as I have long wanted to do.
And so, our time in Eugene, and the Northwest, draws near to its end.
To those who have had a positive impact on my life - I thank you.
To those who we leave behind - we shall return.
To those who hold a place in my heart... I shall not let you go.