Ode to My Bosses

To my first boss, I learned a lot in retail, so thanks for the experience.
To my second, I learned a lot about physics, women, sexism, and surviving sexism, and I am indebted to you forever.
To my third boss, you were crazy, lady, but I needed the work and I can fold a damn tight T-shirt.
To my fourth, sorry I lasted only two days, but working at Ritz wasn't really for me.
To my fifth, thank you for my job, thank you for the long evening talks, thank you for being a friend. I'm have some sadness about the way we parted, but I am glad to still call you friend, and I think we are both better off for my decision. Well, I know I am better off.
To my sixth, thank you for being fierce, for being driven, for being honest, hard as nails, and taking me under your wing in a moment of crisis. Thank you for teaching me how to pick my dragons and my battles. I would never have discovered Quality if it had not been for you, and I am grateful.
To my seventh and eighth, you guys were both insane. One of you I like as a person, the other drove me nuts. I am sorry that you couldn't decide between yourselves who would "guide" me, and sorry that you drove me from the company. But thank you for not being able to decide which of you would "guide" me and driving me from the company.

And to my ninth and final corporate boss, a simple thank you. From you I have learned how to stand my ground on my own two feet. I have learned how to breathe, how to parry a verbal attack, how to hold fast in a torrent, how to determine when to use my claws. Your confidence in me, belief in me, and support of me have been the greatest gift I could receive from my stint as a corporate girl. I honestly believe now that I was meant to get here, meant to meet you, and meant to find how to protect and defend my spirit without tipping my hand. I came to the corporate world to figure out who I was meant to be, and now that I know my path, I am ready to leave. Even if they replace your position before I leave, I will never have another boss.

I am now the boss of myself.