Night shift serial posting.

I am employed again.

They want me to come in on Monday to sign papers and set hours.

I am in a flat panic.

Calm-ma would be appreciated.

Also, along the lines of Anne's "Am I unique in this? If not, how do you deal?" question: This job is something that I used to do, but have not done for 5 years. I've remained tangentially aware of the field, but I think I've forgotten all the jargon and procedures and stuff. I sold myself as competent in the interview, but now I'm panicked that I won't be able to perform and they'll see through my charade.

I keep telling myself that I used to be good at this, and they know I haven't done it in 5 years, and there's a ramp-up period built-in for me to re-train, but I'm still freaked. It's like stage fright. I won't be surprised to have that dream where I have to take my calculus final, and I haven't been to class in 12 years.

Does anybody else do this? Once you've quit doing something, do you jettison knowledge of it? Or do you worry that you have?

Deep breath. What I should be worried about is finding a nanny for something less than my hourly pay.

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Raq, first, congratulations on the job!

Much calm~ma coming your way. I know *exactly* what you mean. Being out with disability for a couple of years where I had memory loss made me very concerned that I'd be able to go back to a job anywhere near the level that I was at before. Granted, I'm still not at the same level, but I'm at a decent level in the academic world, which is different than what I was doing before.

I have been surprised, though, how much comes back...and how much of what I used to do that I was just figuring out as I go, which I'm also pretty good at. You will do the same. I have great confidence in you.

So, yes, I get it, and also, yes, you'll be fine. You're exactly right. They know it's been five years, and there will be a ramp-up period. Try to just keep breathing. You're going to be just fine.

By the way, what is it? Can you tell us anything about the job? Are you excited too?

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Congratulations Raq!

I would say don't worry about panicking, because you'll do it no matter what. And it'll just be a bigger relief when you start and it's nowhere near a big deal.

Also good luck with the nanny hunt.

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Raq, it'll be just like riding a biker bicycle. All that information is up there in your noggin, and you'll find it again when you start trying to access it. It's scary now, but I'm sure you'll be relieved when you actually start working again at how much comes back.

It is WAY too early for me to be up. Ugh. Also, I could use the teensiest little don't let my first client be a real PIMA today ~ma. Fortunately the rest of them will erase any negative residue, but the less that's needed the better.

I'm also really ready for this cold to head out the door. This chest congestion has been here a little too long.

Hey, Dylan, if you're lurking, I hope Susan's interview went well.

Sorry for Aimee's (and her family's) loss. I'm glad she was able to be there.

It's the weekend, and I'll be seeing Bodyworlds! I'm very excited. Which hopefully will get me through this day.

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Raq, you are going to do very well - the kind of people who really get found out as incompetant are the ones who don't care enough to have these worries. Good luck on the childcare hunt.

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Hey, Dylan, if you're lurking, I hope Susan's interview went well.

Me too!

I'm hoping the knowledge is still stored somewhere, and I just need to rebuild my mental FATs to find it. Oddly, the technical part of the job (building databases) doesn't worry me; it's the wacky government stuff that I've forgotten.

By the way, what is it? Can you tell us anything about the job? Are you excited too?

Beyond saying that it's mostly databasing at the embassy, I'm not sure what else I can say, as that whole classified thing rears its head. So I think I'll err on the side of caution and leave it at that. I am excited, and glad the waiting is over!

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Health ~ma to meara's dad.

Congratulations, Raq! I bet vw's right -- it'll come back. Good luck with the nanny issue, too.

It's too early. When do the kids start getting up and getting themselves off to school on their own?

Signed, Eternally Hopeful

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Much health~ma for the dad of meara.

Yay Raq! You'll be back in the swing of it instantly. I have to say that the extra heaping of stress that comes from working outside the home is balanced by the comfort of adult interaction on a daily basis. Unexpectedly the best part of going back to the office for me is having to get dressed every day. I had been at the point where I never wore shoes and lived in gym shorts and tank tops.

Now on a daily basis I am happy to get to the office, then happy to get back home. (of course I never get enough done at either place)

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Congrats on the new job, Raq!

And much health~ma to Meara's dad.

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Once you've quit doing something, do you jettison knowledge of it? Or do you worry that you have?

Like falling off a bike... I mean, I worry about it constantly but always seem to manage just fine. Of course, I also usually sell myself into jobs with software that I need to learn still, so I have a pretty good idea of how quickly I can ramp up on most things.

Been up for two hours, must try to catch another hour or three of sleep now.

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