Unexpected Moments

The last few years have taught me so many things: that I shouldn't expect anything, because I am so often wrong; that things don't always go the way we plan, despite all of our thought and preparation and desires; that people who should understand sometimes don't; and that comfort and strength often come from unexpected sources. So perhaps the big reveal at work today shouldn't have been so surprising, but it was.

The response I got was overwhelmingly positive, with lots of hugs, tears, and screaming. The HR person actually made ME cry, when I told her that it had been a long road, and she told me that she understood, because she herself had never quite managed to get to where I am. As her eyes welled up, I felt so sad for her. She so totally got it, and was so supportive of whatever amount of leave I want to take. As it turns out, I might be able to take additional unpaid leave on top of my paid leave, but I still need to sort all of that out.

The head of my division was genuinely thrilled for me, too--really, really excited. And the male supervisor that I was dreading telling, the one who I thought really wouldn't get it? He was in tears when I told him.