Pic, because it really did happen:

This piece of paper, with only a few lines of text, represents six years of work.

I now have tenure. I have grabbed the proverbial academic brass ring, and I have more job security than I ever thought humanly possible as a child of the 1980s with a parent who was laid off a lot from his union job.

Many, many of my colleagues and friends in academia are not so lucky, working as adjuncts or on renewable, non-guaranteed contracts. Many of my colleagues and friends who have done this have done so without nearly as much support as I have had.

I’m having a bit of a difficult time wrapping my head around it. But I just wanted to put it out there that I’m deeply grateful to be in this position, cognizant of how FUCKING LUCKY* I am to be here, and to say thank you, especially, to Michael.

Sweetheart,

Thank you. You have worked so hard behind the scenes, keeping our household running and keeping Caitlin healthy and happy, managing appointments and therapies and schools and insurance and laundry and dinner and dishes and dusting and so much more.

All of these things you have done, so that I had time and space to write, to produce, to attend conferences and conventions, to be the best professional that I could.

You are the one who has worked the hardest for this. And I am humbled, nay, floored by how much you have sacrificed so that I might succeed at this moment.

I love you. I appreciate you. And I’m saying this publicly because it needs to be said, as often as possible.

Thank you.

*Tenure means I can curse!