Post-doctoral bliss

I've always liked September.
September is quite often quite sunny. It's warm enough to wear ligth jackets, the foliage is beautiful, and as I was cycling to work this morning, the fallen leaves were doing intricate circular patterns in the blowing wind.

I've also, I think, always liked the return to normalcy after the summer holidays. Even as an adult, this reflex remains. In September, one is still rested from vacation and soaking up sunshine, and this constructive energy makes thought processes and other activities run quite efficiently.

This September has been infused with the glory of post-doctoral happiness. My brain started working again some time in August, meaning that I was actually able to get more than one thing done in one day (and we were talking of quite small things). Yesterday, a colleague said to his PhD student "a lot of people must be jealous of your project". And I thought, NO, nothing compares to being through and done. Two days ago, at lunch, I looked around me and noticed that only one was not a Doctor. I had moved from one group to another, and hadn't noticed, really.

There are other reasons for my happiness. Setting myself up - or, really, giving myself something to do in my unemployed state, I've already presented my work twice this fall, and will again next week. Feedback is priceless. Being invited for an interview in the UK for a very attractive research position is another boost, after my initial ambivalence. And singing, baroque music, twice a week.

My back is straight, my lungs clear, and nobody can ever take away that I DID IT!

And that is post-doctoral happiness!