Last night, I was the last person to leave the office.

At 6:30PM, I looked up from my cube and everyone was gone. I looked out the window and saw that it was already dark out. Earlier than normal. Something felt different. I walked outside and it smelled like autumn. Autumn. My favorite season.

Autumn reminds me of going back to school, starting a new year. For the second year, I did not go back to school in September. This year was easier than last, but it doesn’t take away that new year feeling.

For some reason this year, the feeling is affecting me more. Specifically at work. My favorite part of starting a new school year was organizing myself for the year. This week has been slower than a normal week, so I took advantage and got organized. I cleaned out my inbox and all of my folders. I made timelines for my upcoming projects and I was finally able to begin working on our upcoming event (our biggest event of the year).

This slow week is the calm before the storm. Our event is 3 weeks away. My monthly projects are starting up again. And who knows what else will come up next week. Having a few days to feel the surge of a new season and time to reorganize and even just take a step back and breathe, makes a huge difference in my work life.

Remember the burn out at the end of the school year? You couldn’t wait to be done. Then summer came and you got a break. This week was my much needed break. Which reminds me, I really need a vacation.

For seven glorious months I have had no next-door cube neighbor. The absence of a co-worker sitting next to me has been blissful. I can talk loudly on the phone, not share my gum with others, and throughout the course of the day talk out loud to myself without others judging me.

My loony behavior however has come to an end with the arrival of the New Kid. I had been informed last week by HR (who is by the way only one man who also serves as our legal counsel) that the New Kid would be occupying the cubicle next to mine and all the stuff that I had been stowing there had to be moved. Quick explanation, since my last next-door neighbor had moved out I have been using New Kid’s desk as my second desk. I just have a lot of stuff – marketing materials take up a lot of space! And I just recently had my closet taken away for me because it is now fall and people need a place to put their coats. Coats schmoats.

Anyway, I agreed to let the New Kid move in if he was A) attractive and B) single, to which HR/Legal Guy responded with a snort and said, “Move your stuff.” I begrudgingly moved my things (which means I now live underneath a mountain of paper and cardboard boxes), and the New Kid moved in on Monday.

I hate to say it, but I already loathe him and it’s only been three days. But the guy is just trying way too hard and he doesn’t stop talking. I know it’s a new job for him and he’s just trying to fit in, but the guy is going overboard. He has tried to get in on inside jokes already with me and other co-workers, invited himself into the work football pool, and told me about his entire high school, college and work histories.

New Kid also had to ask how to open Outlook. And I showed him. I have now become his go-to person. You know, the person he asks every. single. question. How do I file a question for tech? Where can I find a stapler? How can I order these pens I really like? How do I open Excel on this computer? It is a tiny bit draining.

I am completely sympathetic for him. New job, new people. He’s just trying to fit in. I get it. But when I started this job, I didn’t have friends until at least month three. It takes time to get to know a person. So don’t talk me to death. I like things to happen naturally. No pressure, no forcing friendships. Here’s to hoping this New Kid on my aisle stops trying so hard and stops talking so much.

What I wouldn’t give for that cubicle back.