“So.. how’re you feeling?”

“Um, I’m fine. I’m ready. I’m over being pregnant.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I keep slamming my belly in the dishwasher door when I close it.”

“SARAH.”

“No, not like I’m throwing myself down the stairs to end this torture, more like I’m so huge I don’t even know where I end any more and I clearly have the gestation period of an elephant.”

*****

Last week in the office. Next week, I work virtually to give myself baby-steps in letting go. Then I’m officially on leave the last week of May.

*****

UNRELATED TO BABY: Oh, y’all. The Office ends this week. I don’t think I’m emotionally strong enough to handle this. I wondered why it was hitting me so hard and I went back and looked and realized that Bryan and I have watched this show almost since we started dating. We’ve lived through Roy & Pam and Jim & Women and then Pam & Jim. We kind of grew together as this show matured.

And not even just Bryan and I. I joined this team a year after the show started. AND I BEGAN WORKING FOR (a) JIM & (a) DWIGHT. My boss was also a huge fan and we used to gossip about Office Olympics every time we’d have a party planning committee meeting.

Don’t even get me started on Michael Scott. Sure, towards the end of his run, it was evident that the writers didn’t know where to go, but .. still. What a finely drawn character. Steve Carrell is the new guy that can make me cry without even trying.

It’s this moment where I realize that, when the show started, I had no idea who I was or what I was wanting out of life. And look at things now.

Jim & Pam, man. Best ever.

*****

ALSO UNRELATED TO BABY: last week, I graduated from a young professional’s Leadership class that I’d been taking part in since last October. It was, hands down, one of the coolest things I’d been a part of.

See, I’ve lived in Huntsville, Alabama since .. 1990? Ish? Off and on. I knew a couple of things about the city (mainly the arts community), but this class took us so much deeper into how our city is run. It gave us opportunities to make a difference, both at a city and state level, and we had so much fun doing it. The days were long and intense and tiring, but man, you’d go home sore from laughing so hard. It was a very cool environment to be with such a diverse group of folks, and know that everyone would be heard equally.

In fact, it kind of made me rethink what I want to do. As it turns out, I really really REALLY love politics.

Seriously, I’m so sad it’s over. It was a fantastic voyage.

*****

*****

In the event you HAVEN’T read it, let me end this by directing you to the amazing return post of Miss Allie Brosh, who pens Hyperbole and a Half. Allie’s unique story-telling abilities, combined with her whimsical and hysterical illustrations, provide the perfect platform to discuss darker things like depression. And if you’ve ever struggled with depression, you’ve probably had the same difficulty putting words to what you’re feeling (or not feeling, as the case may be). This post made me laugh, smile, and cry because I’ve been there too. I’m glad Allie’s back among the internets and I’m even more encouraged by the support being poured out in response to the post.

(And obviously, while you’re there, dig around a bit. Everything is hysterical, although I’m partial to stories about Dog and her childhood memories of The Party.)