A Happy Anniversary

Today is the one-year anniversary of my broken leg. Exactly one year (and two hours) ago, I was walking down the sandy path in the woods to the waterslide at the camp where I was working. Little did I know that in a few moments, my life would change forever.

The previous couple of months, I had been worried about finding a job, paying bills, and Christine's grad-school plans. For the next ten or so months - being unable to work, having bills covered by workers' comp, and Christine's receiving a full assistantship - I worried about how to get places that had stairs, itches that were hidden below an inch and a half of Fiberglas, and if I would be able to walk again without surgery.

A few months ago, my worries reversed yet again. After intense physical therapy, which included having electricity zapped into my leg, I was released to return to work, thus workers' comp payments ended, and Christine finished her first year of grad school and teaching (very well, I might add). Once again I had to find a job, pay bills, and try to find a way to save enough to find a place wherever Christine ends up for her doctoral study.

I reopened my accounts with Monster and CareerBuilder.com and looked for editing and writing positions. I followed several promising leads, but while I had the education and experience for the jobs, I didn't have the titles that companies were looking for. My professors and contacts back at Cornerstone were very helpful, but alas, they could not force anyone to hire me.

Finally, I started looking for anything in my area for which I was qualified. CareerBuilder advertised a Customer Service Representative (teller) position at a bank in town. Having years of customer service experience, I applied. When I arrived at the interview, I was told that the position had changed and would I be interested in a position as a personal banker. With no idea what that meant, but needing the work, I said yes. The interview went well, I really enjoyed the people and the atmosphere, and a few days later, I got an offer, which I accepted.

This week I began orientation and began shadowing a personal banker at another location. At times I still can't believe I'm a banker (my educational background being in English and philosophy), but I'm really enjoying it. The company is growing, which will provide opportunities for advancement, and if nothing else, I'm learning how to responsibly manage money, which is valuable no matter what I end up doing.

Whenever I feel down that I'm not doing what I dreamed of in college, Christine reminds me that banking is just my "Bruce Wayne" face, and that my true "Batman" identity will emerge in the evening when I come home to write. She knows me so well.

Now that things are actually happening in my life, I will attempt to update more often, probably on weekends. Please keep in touch and keep us in your prayers.