My chair emailed me today to ask if we could arrange a time to talk this weekend.
I didn't know what to make of it. You guys, my brain has been a bad place lately. I had pretty much persuaded myself that they didn't want me. Maybe their first-choice candidate would turn them down, and I would have a shot. But maybe they knew the SECRET TRUTH about my inadequacies. Maybe I had bombed so badly in my meeting with the dean that he emailed the chair immediately afterward to say "Anyone but the redhead." Maybe I made a fatal error in not selling myself harder during the exit meeting with the chair. Maybe it was all HOPELESS HOPELESS HOPELESS and why did I think I had been called to do this work again?
I had brief glimpses of sanity, in which I remembered that I did a lot of things right during the interview, but mostly good sense eluded me.
My mother asked me a couple of days ago what I would do if I didn't get the job. I said, "Ululate plaintively until I feel better." She laughed merrily, as if she were talking to someone who was making a joke, but I wasn't joking.
Part of me thought my chair was calling to give me a heads-up that I hadn't been chosen, so I could get all of my wailing and gnashing of teeth out of the way before Monday. (Total underestimate of the required wailing/gnashing time, BTW.) Part of me was suddenly wildly hopeful. Part of me was just relieved that the waiting would be over.
She said she'd call at 5:30. I went outside and paced so we wouldn't have to talk over the dinnertime chaos.
My phone rang a few minutes after 5:30. "I'm delighted," she began, "to offer you a tenure-track job."
Congratulations Jamie! What wonderful news!
Posted by: Pippi | February 16, 2013 at 10:28 PM
YAYYAYAYAYAY! So glad for you Gladly :) My heart sings on your behalf. And now begins the real work, right? :) :) :)
Posted by: mandamum | February 16, 2013 at 10:31 PM
OH, congratulations! And now your weekend can be ululation free!
Posted by: Kira | February 16, 2013 at 11:57 PM
Oh oh oh! I am ululating joyously.
Posted by: rachel | February 17, 2013 at 12:39 AM
Oh oh oh! I am ululating joyously.
Posted by: rachel | February 17, 2013 at 12:40 AM
Woo HOO! That's fantastic news! Congratulations!
Posted by: Pigwotflies | February 17, 2013 at 02:33 AM
Yes! Good job keeping your faith so strong throughout this :) We all knew it was yours!
Posted by: Jennifer | February 17, 2013 at 03:57 AM
Congrats! Whooooooo hoooooo! Xxoo
Posted by: Gina | February 17, 2013 at 07:21 AM
Wooo hoooooo! Congratulations!!!!
Posted by: Maud | February 17, 2013 at 07:43 AM
Yay for you!
Posted by: S. | February 17, 2013 at 09:03 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Calee | February 17, 2013 at 09:12 AM
AWWWWW, OH, OH, WOW!! WOW!!!
I'm so happy for you!!! Congratulations, this is amazing!!
Posted by: Lilian | February 17, 2013 at 09:42 AM
Yay! Huzzuh! Taco cat!
Posted by: Bearing | February 17, 2013 at 01:59 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Beth | February 17, 2013 at 07:05 PM
I'm so happy for you, Jamie. Congratulations! :)
Posted by: Steve B. | February 17, 2013 at 09:49 PM
Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Lisa | February 18, 2013 at 09:56 AM
Joyful noise!! Joyful noise!!!
What exciting news. Congratulations and best wishes. =)
Posted by: Kristin | February 18, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Ohhhhhhh, congratulations! =)
Posted by: Jen | February 18, 2013 at 06:28 PM
Hooray, congratulations!
Posted by: rob | February 18, 2013 at 08:00 PM
Hooray! Did you tell her you'd have to ponder the offer for a while?
Posted by: Marcie | February 19, 2013 at 05:29 PM
Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Celeste | February 20, 2013 at 07:58 AM
Congratulations!!
Posted by: Shannon | February 20, 2013 at 01:27 PM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! *Jumping up and down clapping and screaming*
A million smiles and congratulations!!!
Posted by: Angela | February 20, 2013 at 03:28 PM