Anniversary

Batten down the hatches and call in the dogs because today marks the one year anniversary of my employment at Techonline! For the past twelve months I’ve banked time, energy and experience at this job much like a young boy drudgingly saves portions of his weekly allowance, saving up for that expensive electric train set in the toy store window. With every accumulated step I take there is a temptation to let go. A small part of me wants to leave and squander away the frivolous time spent building a reputation for myself. But the bigger part of me knows to toil on, moving forwards with angst and patience.

All through college, you and I have been told to keep our first job for one year. Doing that emphasizes resilience and dedication, which are venerable qualities. At home or at school, this initiative was encouraged by parents, teachers, councilors and friends. Even my agency recruiter underlined the importance of keeping a landed job for one year, despite any grueling negativity that could arise. Knowing my tendency to be flighty and readily distracted, I accepted this one-year thing as a challenge, already expecting to fail. I, like you, dream up so many plans and fantasies, most of which involve having adventures outside of Massachusetts. When I started my job a year ago, I had no idea that I’d actually be successful!

Wow! Yay me! Look at me suppressing my restless urge for thrilling differences. Excuse me while I go pat myself on the back…

Don’t let my enthusiastic festivity of triumphant excitement fool you. My exclamations are purely sardonic. Today’s anniversary arrived much like a train to a station, with little pomp or circumstance. While I’ve fruitfully stayed here for one year, I can’t let go of what I’ve sacrificed in order to do so. There is no celebratorial cake in the kitchen here in the office. Nor is there a party in my honor scheduled for conference room ‘A’ this afternoon. My coworkers didn’t forget, I just never reminded them. IsIt it that I feel slighted like Samantha Baker from Sixteen Candles?

I’ve eagerly waited three hundred and sixty five days for this to arrive, each one passing with a contemptuous “all right already!” Ha, you’d think with all the hype I’d have some sort of articulate expression. Yet; now that this day is here, I feel dry. Which is ironic considering it’s been pouring rain all day long.

I can now completely remove the bookmark I’ve been inching forwards through the novel titled, One Year at CMP/Techonline, marking the pages and days passed. When I get home this afternoon I will put that book on my unkempt bookshelf alongside Bus driving with the PVTA, Emphasizing the Fierce at Abercrombie and Fitch, and Answering Phones with Jesus at the Christian Science Center. Actually, now that I think about it, there is comfort knowing I can ease down in my red comfy chair tonight with the satisfaction of having one year of a corporate job under my belt.

Next step: The book titled, Not-for-Profit and You, or maybe I’ll run down to Barnes and Nobles to pick up A Successful Romantic Relationship.

Hmmmm….choices, choices…