Today it’s official. My first day at Lowe’s was June 1, 2002. I have been working there for a full 7 years in what was supposed to be a 6 month job. It’s amazing how that happens. At the time I was just looking for a paycheck, and needed something A.S.A.P.. When they offered me a full time position with benefits and the pay I wanted on the spot, I jumped on it. However, in the back of my mind I hated myself for getting yet another retail job. So, I made a secret deal with myself: I would only stay for 6 months. That gave me 6 months to find something outside of retail to focus on.

Things don’t always happen the way we think they will.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t completely hate my job. In fact, in a strange sense, I have grown up at Lowe’s. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happened to me since I started there.

2002: Lovelorn and distraught. I was truly alone for the first time in 7 years. It was time for me to start leaning who I really was.

2003: Started a webcomic with JP called i/o Comics. Really started to figure out who I was. Helped Ormando open his own business.

2004: Finally started to want a female companion, I join Match.com and find a girl from New Jersey within 1 week. We haven’t been apart since then! JP and I see Godsmack at the Wachovia Arena and the show ends up on their new DVD. i/o Comics fades into the background.

2005: Jess moves in. JP and I finally get to meet Kevin Smith. JP and I start i/o Computers. Jess and I end the year by getting engaged.

2006: I move from my comfort zone in Hardware to Installed Sales. Jess and I are married in October. I take over Installed Sales as Department Manager in December.

2007: Jess starts work on her Master’s Degree. We go to England for a week and see The Police in concert when we get back. We start trying to have a baby.

2008: i/o Computers closes its doors. I finally make the switch to a Mac.

2009: We find out Jess is pregnant with a little boy to be named Jackson Shafer. I transfer to the Edwardsville store and take of the Appliance Department.

That’s no where even close to an accurate nor complete timeline, but you can see that quite a bit has happened in the past 7 years. Wow.

What I can say is that I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world. I have made some friendships working there that I will take with me for the rest of my life. Everytime I get discouraged or stressed out and think about how horrible Lowe’s is, I just think back to this picture from my wedding.

I knew no one in that picture 7 years ago. Today, I count them among my closest friends. I’d say my time there has been well spent.

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