I filed my taxes last weekend and there's a spot on the US federal tax return for "Occupation" and friends, I still legitimately feel a thrill putting "Scientist" in that box. Every. Single. Time.

There are things that are shitty about it, it's a job like any job, sometimes you don't wanna, and then there's now (!), but if you asked me when I was FIVE what I wanted to be when I grew up, that was the answer. I'm living the dream. It's a stress dream right now, yes, but it's the dream.