SOMEONE GET ME A COCKTAIL….STAT!

I can totally shout things like, “Stat!” now because …

(drumroll please)

I am officially Dr. Mimi! (And doctors get to say stuff like “stat” which makes the years of schooling and hojillions of dollars in tuition totally worth it, right?  RIGHT?)

Let me say that again, just for ha has.

I AM OFFICIALLY DR. MIMI!!

To be totally honest, it’s actually been about 16 days (but who’s counting?) since it became official.  Those of you who follow me over on Facey heard first hand as soon as my oral defense was over.  (See what you’re missing if you’re not cyber stalking The Mimi?)  It’s taken me a few days to write a post about this because I have literally spent the last 16 days crying tears of relief, feverishly making minor revisions and clearing up formatting issues and sleeping the sleep of the dead (minus nightly interruptions from you-know-who…Mini Mimi, mommy is looking at YOU!)

But now it’s turned in.  It’s over.  O.V.E.R.

Seven years ago, an envelope arrived that changed my life.  In my usual overly-dramatic fashion, I refused to open it and insisted that Mr. Mimi do the unveiling (although he was just Boyfriend Mimi back then…it’s been a loooooong time, people).  In those days, Mr. Mimi had just moved to NYC, had yet to find a job and I was trying to support myself in a fabulous apartment on a teacher’s salary.  (Translation: We was po.) He barely got out the words, “You got in,” before I started screaminig.   After much high-fiving, hugging, and some more screaming, we went out to celebrate.  We went to a cute bistro around the corner and, after pooling our resources, realized we had enough to split one cheeseburger and get one drink.  Clearly, I drank the whole cocktail myself…it was the most delicious bellini I think I’ve ever had.  (Don’t ask why I chose a bellini…they were probably drinking them on SATC at the time and I can be a bit impressionable.)

In the last seven years, I have spent countless nights reading articles, writing papers, preparing for study groups, going to class and banging my head against the wall.  (Bet you didn’t know that was part of the process, did you?  Well, it is.  A very big part, in fact.)  Boyfriend Mimi turned into Mr. Mimi and friends, that man deserves a medal.  He has brought me more dinners, talked me off more ledges and supported me more completely than I could ever ask for.

Sixteen days ago, he came with me and sat outside in the hallway, while I defended myself and my dissertation.  He stood by me as we waited for The Decision.  And before I had a chance to barf in a nearby trashcan (again, the drama friends, the drama), the door opened and I heard the words, “Congratulations.”

(Cue more hugging and crying. I managed to hold it together and not scream.  Snaps for me, right?)  After thanking my amaze balls committee, Mr. Mimi and I headed back to that same bistro and ordered TWO cheeseburgers and TWO bellinis.  And can I just say: Best.  Burger.  Ever.

So, while I may make you all call me Dr. Mimi for a little while, I think I’ll stick with Mrs. Mimi.  Because even though I am a fancy-pants DOCTOR now, I always have been and always will be a TEACHER and Mrs. Mimi just seems to fit, doesn’t it?

Thanks for all the cyber support and understanding.  It’s meant more than I can say.

xo,
Mimi

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16 Comments
  • Congrats, Dr. Mimi! I can't imagine how good it feels to finally complete something you've been working on for SEVEN YEARS. Wonderful!

    My question is…did you have an end goal in mind, or did you just want a PhD for the sake of having a PhD? Is there a specific career goal you have for this? I'm excited to see what you've got planned next!

    Congratulations again! 🙂

    May 5, 2011 at 3:36 pm
  • Just wanted to say super duper congratulations! My husband has two years left on his PHD, almost ABD over here, and hearing about people finishing almost makes me cry. HURRAY it can be done!! Lots of awesome-ness to you!

    May 5, 2011 at 3:55 pm
  • Grab yourself a double Bellini and order yourself new business cards, STAT! Dr. Mimi needs those expensive fancy letters after her name on the biz cards. You earned them!!! Oh and get like 10 dozen of this yummy underground cookie place cookies too. 😉

    May 5, 2011 at 7:06 pm
  • WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

    I'm so happy for you, DR. Mimi!

    May 5, 2011 at 7:06 pm
  • Congratulations Dr. Mimi!!! You should be very proud of yourself. I just got word yesterday that I've been accepted into the Elementary Math Cohort to complete my Master's. Exciting and terrified at the exact same time.

    You are inspiration. I read your book over Spring Break and loved it.

    Hope you're going to do more celebrating in the near future.

    May 5, 2011 at 11:35 pm
  • That is fantastic! 🙂 Congratulations!!!!!

    May 5, 2011 at 11:35 pm
  • Oh, yay! This is such wonderful news! Congratulations!!!!!!!

    May 5, 2011 at 11:35 pm
  • Congrats Dr. Mimi. Love your blog and you deserve lots of bellinis to celebrate! 🙂

    May 5, 2011 at 11:35 pm
  • Stat. Code Blue. Get me Dr. Mimi. Congratulations! After years of hard work you deserve to revel in it for a while. Enjoy!

    May 5, 2011 at 11:35 pm
  • Hurray for your!

    May 6, 2011 at 2:21 pm
  • Well this is my 1st time to stop by your blog and what a day!! Dr. Mimi!! That's really awesome for you!! Way to go!! =)

    May 6, 2011 at 2:21 pm
  • so happy for you!!! so well-deserved…

    May 6, 2011 at 2:21 pm
  • Congrats, Dr. Mimi! I remember the feeling well.

    Dr. Frogg

    May 6, 2011 at 5:53 pm
  • Thanks, Angela! I think at one point I had an end goal, but it eventually became "just finish." Somewhere down the line I'd like to work with pre-service teachers at the college level.

    Rebecca – done and done on the cookie front! 😉

    April- congrats to you too! Good luck with everything.

    Everyone – you are the best peeps ever! Thanks for all the virtual snaps!

    May 6, 2011 at 5:57 pm
  • Congrats Dr. Mrs. Mimi on your new degree AND on your decision to remain "mrs." since you are a teacher, after all.

    However, there is one more important thing at the moment…Happy First Mother's Day!!

    May 8, 2011 at 11:34 pm
  • Congratulations, Dr. Mimi! What an achievement! I'm a 4th year teacher and have been loving your blog for probably about two years. Thanks for doing what you do! 🙂

    Better Than a Milk Mustache

    May 8, 2011 at 11:34 pm

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