Work Spouse

Today marks my one year anniversary with my work spouse and the one year I have been at my job. A work spouse is a damn good thing to have, and mine is particularly fabulous. A work spouse is much like a gay best friend, just minus the gay part. I think every work marriage is different but mine goes a little like this:

He tells me I look beautiful and he is one of the few people that I feel like truly means it. He’s also pretty much the only guy I hear it from these days but when I come in sleepy and cranky, it feels damn good.

He knows I can be crazy, cranky, bitchy, needy but he loves me anyway.

He listens to me vent about everything – the boy I made out with over the weekend, the fight I got into with my friend, the stupid order sitting on my desk that I don’t know what to do about.

He gives me great advice. Whether he’s helping me solve a work related problem or explaining to me the fact that “boys don’t like to talk. Never say to a boy that you need to talk or they will avoid seeing you. Ask him to hang out, get him in person, then lay it on him.” Such a smart boy, my Work Spouse.

On our first date, M told me that WS had warned him “if you hurt her, I’ll kill you… I’m serious.” I let M know that in fact, WS was being completely serious.

It’s WS that is there when I need a dollar for a redbull.

WS is there to walk down to the cafeteria when I don’t want to go by myself.

WS is there to sit next to at the team meetings, team dinners, and team events.

WS is there to have in depth conversations about our favorite show, LOST.

And today, he brought me a rose for the one year we’ve been at the company:

And of course, I fulfill my duties as a work spouse as well.

I listen to WS talk about his on again, off again g/f.

I notice when he loses weight/has been working out and I tell him.

I made a sign for his cube just to make him smile.

I come by his desk and rub his head when he looks completely stress out.

Now that I think about it, it just might be the healthiest relationship I’ve ever had with a man.