Wednesday, March 07, 2007

29 Months

After 29 months, two days, six hours, and 24 minutes, I finally...

GAVE MY NOTICE!!!!!!!!

When my new firm called to tell me that I had passed the administrative check, I was so excited I started jumping around in my bathroom. Then, ten minutes later, while I walked to the subway in the freezing cold, I suddenly felt nauseous from nerves and fear. What would I do with all of that free time after giving notice? How could I be taking almost two months off? How could I not be making any money during that time? Could I give notice on a Wednesday, or did it have to happen on a Friday?

Em assured me that I could give notice whenever I felt like it, and then suddenly I felt nauseous for completely different reasons. What would happen when I told them? How would the react? I sat down at my desk, after arriving late, and thankfully Essa called with news of her own and we decided to meet immediately for coffee and an impromptu pow-wow. She's thinking of leaving too! Yay! With her help I rehearsed what I was going to say, fortified myself with a cup of coffee, and then went back inside.

Giving my notice was way easier than I had anticipated it being. It turns out that once you say that you're leaving all is forgiven. All. Is. Forgiven. (All of you peeps at law firms thinking about leaving, keep this in mind). Everyone had such wonderful things to say about me now that I was leaving. The moment was "bittersweet" (for them). It actually was touching. I said goodbye to several partners that I had genuinely enjoyed working with and I told them so. They shared similar sentiments and wished me well. I was elated and I felt like I was going to burst. Suddenly, it dawned on me. This was real. I was going to be FREE!!!!!!

In other news, Tapas Boy called and we went out for celebratory drinks tonight. It was super fun. I've decided I love raspberry mojitos.

I have exactly 7 more days until I'm free for good. I can not believe it. I seriously doubted that this day would come. I feel like I've fallen through a rabbit hole and discovered this bizarre world where people can actually be happy.

It's disconcerting, but I'm ecstatic.

14 comments:

Waspgoddess said...

Congratulations are in order, and as soon as I fall off the wagon I shall locate a place that makes raspberry mojitos.

Enjoy your freedom and have fun with Tapas Boy ;)

Wood said...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


xo.

Anonymous said...

YAY! Good for you! And raspberry mojitos are fantastic!

No Reply said...

Congrats on whatever change seems to be making you happy. I've only briefly read a couple of your posts so don't know what exactly is happening.

I think you should talk to the Dragon woman. Not for her but for you. You seem to acknowledge that you have some irrational fear of her. Remember that she is just a person so talk with her just to deal with your fear. If you don't, then it is likely that other people will be able to intimidate you also. The only time other people "WIN" is when they have control over your emotions. When they "make" you feel angry or fearful. This takes time away from your life, not theirs. Be polite, professional and even friendly with her and it will make you stronger. You could even thank her for challenging you, because she did, but perhaps not in the way she will probably take it. From your perspective talking will make you a stronger person, from her perspective it will throw her off balance because she probably won't expect it. This is NOT butt kissing, it is only cleaning up emotional baggage that you would otherwise carry with you.

On a side note, I'm curious if anybody you write about ever reads your blog and how you would react?

Stace said...

congrats

Willow said...

Congratulations!!!!! I am so happy for you! I do agree with Gregory above, that you should face the DL. I quit my job over a year and a half ago, and recently realized that I was still harboring resentment against the supervisor--who I held to blame for my leaving the position. I didn't even realize I still had the feelings until I blurted them out in a conversation, then I was like wait a minute--Why am I wasting any of my emotions on this person? I have since come to terms with how I felt, and moved on, and if I get this new job I just interviewed for, I intend to write him and thank him. No, not in a burning bridges kind of way, but to possibly rebuild the bridge. It's a small world and who knows some day he may be my neighbor!

Glad everything is going your way!
Congrats Again!

Buttercup said...

Wasp - I think you should have a raspberry mojito on your b-day. Watch out though b/c they go down very easily.

Wood - We have to celebrate together!!

Lass - Thanks! I can't stop smiling.

Gregory - Trust me, if you had worked non-stop with DL for the last two years you would understand my anxiety. But, I see your point about not letting people intimidate you and throwing people off balance by being professional and polite. Generally, that's a good way to go. About your other question, I write anonymously so that I can have freedom in this space.

Stace - Thanks!

Twisted Cinderella said...

I remember that feeling when I left my job. I like the anonymity of the internet as well to give me freedom to express myself.

Karianne said...

Yeah PP! I'm so proud of you!

Tracy said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has been a long time coming, and I, for one, am VERY PROUD OF YOU!

Anonymous said...

I had the same experience when I gave notice. every was so nice. why were they so miserable when I was a dog to do their bidding?

A warning on anonymity: there are ways for people to figure out who you are. thank God no one ever sent this site to the DL, but you should keep that in mind for your next firm.

Sparky Duck said...

Hallafreakinglujah!! And way to go!!

There are no bad mojitos, raspberry or otherwise.

Buttercup said...

Thanks for all the good wishes! I will take under advisement your warnings about anonymity.

Gypsy said...

I got chills! And then I wanted to jump around my office for you! Congrats! :) Now onward and upward!