Well, so at least that’s done

Now on to other things. There is an interesting possibility up in PDX, maybe on over to the east coast. Then there is always

oh, what? Yeah, that thing. Finally. Long enough, you ask? Well, yeah, always takes longer than you think, no battle plan survives the first contact with the enemy, don’t count your chickens, you know how these things go. So.

When you start if feels so far away that you can’t even imagine it. Half way there, past the first rush of grad school and the stress of the first couple of years and papers, and you aren’t thinking of anything except the next hypothesis, the next experiment, and the next beer.

By the third and fourth year, it’s mostly the beer, and you don’t want to think about it. You’re not ready, but some of your cohort have already graduated and you are feeling a little stale. Is this really the thing? Is this really the One career? Should I even finish? Starbucks has openings.

Finally, the topic, an  idea, maybe this is good enough. They agree, suggest a few changes, another experiment here, drop that one, these analysis. Move on. Next. You have real work to do.

Writing….

Writing….

Writi….no, not quite, a little more. Actually, no, not entirely sure. I’ve started looking, of course, I plan to do more of the same: more research, more teaching…

Writing….

Then there is that bright line. This term, this month, this week, and they have their copies, and the date is finalized, and now they are there, in the room, watching your talk, giving comments asking questions and you think, reply,  and then you are done. The talk is over. Some more questions, then silence. Everyone leaves the room and you pace, outside, as they talk, inside.

What is the usual time on these things? You don’t remember from those other defenses you attended. At least, it never felt this long. Who the hell is allergic to apples, anyway? Will he hold it against me?

Then the door opens and you go back in, the handshake, the , “Congratulations, Dr. …” and then silence again. And nothing has changed and everything is the same and yet, it is like looking at the train station as you pass. From this side it looks different.

And now new questions, new hypothesis, wondering, should you get off at the next stop or ride longer, see what is on the other side of that tunnel? You don’t know. But you learned at least one thing in grad school and this train has a good dinning car.

Another pint, please.