"Papercuts"

So, here’s the thing, one afternoon I thumbed through the dictionary to see how Oxford defined ebb- a noun & verb- the process of declining or diminishing; the state of being in decline. I looked up ebb because “ Papercut” is not in the dictionary- paperback, paperboy, paperclip, but no papercut. My definition however- Noun-a particularly annoying and painful occurrence that restores the balance to life. Papercuts are sort like a speed bumps that inevitably occur when things are going too well.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll start in the middle of the story simply because I should be billing hours. The Saturday my girlfriend broke up with me was the day my ex-fiancee got married. Go ahead, I’ll wait here while you reread that last sentence. It happened a week before my birthday and three days prior to the bar results being released. I couldn’t sleep, waking up as usual at 3:15 am every Monday morning, something I’ve come to expect since graduating from law school. Some sort of Amittyville thing!

Anyway, I hate Monday mornings and it was raining. I missed my train, arrived at work wet, one hour late, and my supervising partner remarked, “you are certainly comfortable strolling in at this time.” What could I say?

OK, back to the story. So, I’m thumbing through the dictionary, dripping water on the pages and the phone rings. It’s the same partner. “I need you in my office,” he said with that eager to unload the work off his desk tone as punishment for my late arrival. I grabbed a pad and entered his office. He asked me to close the door, which prompted my apprehension, mostly because we’d never meet behind closed doors. I mentally tickled my projects and found nothing due. I sat and listened as he said the bar results are in early. Ouch, Papercut! Of course I failed. I honestly think he took some momentary joy out of relaying the news, again as punishment for my late arrival.

What was funny, (funny in the sarcastic foreshadowing sort of way), the week before the break up and subsequent slide, I was in a groove, a flow if you will… (Insert movie music here …duntduntdunnn)… And then came the ebb, or tit- you know for tat- not life changing stuff, but simply a papercut- annoying and painful as a bitch!

I had just started at one of the top ten firms in a big city. Family, school, friends, girl, all proud and then….. You know a papercut.

Of course, I did what most self-respecting first year associates would do when they lose the girl, fail the bar and get chewed out by one of the managing partners. I quit! I bet he didn’t expect that!

I quit a six figure big firm job with no other prospects. So, I went to Wendy’s for a frosty. Of course! I know! Brilliant! There is no choice- I’ll pass the bar and start my own firm, hang my own shingle. I have just enough experience!

Certainly, more papercuts to follow!