It's Official: My Job Is MY JOB

I got a call yesterday afternoon from someone in our Human Resources (Personnel) Department:

HRD person: I would like to offer you the _______ position that you recently applied for in the American Community Survey Office. Do you accept this position?

Me: Absolutely. This will be my first promotion in 20 years.
[I found myself thinking that this was somewhat like saying "I do" after living with your partner for 10 years.]

The only thing standing between me and a start date is a higher security clearance. When you have waited 20 years, what’s a few more weeks/months?

I felt a huge surge of relief upon receiving this call. I had fully prepared myself for not getting this job, even though I was convinced that no one was more qualified than I was to do it. But all of a sudden, everything seemed to be right with the world.

I give my new young boss an A+ for a total lack of pre-selection. She played this entirely by the books, never giving me as much as a hint that I had this job. She is well on her way to being a career SES employee. I have sometimes wondered why someone with a graduate degree from Harvard is so enthused about working in the Federal government, but I suppose I should find this affirming.

So as I plunge into the day’s problems, they look just the same as they did yesterday, but I can smile at my new GS rating, knowing that it is one higher than it was this time yesterday. Some day in the not-too-distant future I will revisit retirement, but for now I have a job to do...