Two Is Better Than One
I’m blessed to have the best partner in the world — in life and love, and at work.
I am one lucky man! At the end of 2013, while running one of Food Pedaler’s first deliveries, I met the most wonderful woman in the world.
Beth was working the front desk at a dorm on SLU’s campus, studying chemistry. As usual for college students, it took several minutes for them to emerge for their cupcakes. This allotted me enough time to find a crack in Beth’s study shell and strike up a conversation.
I was able to coax this lovely lady, who seemed disinterested and annoyed, into sharing that she was a nutrition and dietetics student. This led to talking about food, fermentation, and farming (a conversation that never ended). She shared a surprising degree of interest in what are specific obsessions of mine. I was grateful to have met such a special person and had a meaningful chat. Not wanting to come on too strong, I told her I’d come back with a book that came up during our talk, and managed to make good on that promise.
The years that followed have been the happiest of my life, and keep getting better. This amazing woman knows how to love more than I could ever even understand, but with her help I get a little closer each day.
She also works harder than anyone else I’ve known, which is great because we run a couple businesses together!
Both of these excellent qualities make sense when you meet her family. Grandma Sug and Papa Wayne, aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins, they’re all precious gems. Her dad operates HandyMasters, recognized as the best bathroom and kitchen remodeling contractor in the region (if not the world), as her mom administrates.
A few people warned us about working together. It’s been over a year now, and I couldn’t imagine it being any better! Recently we were discussing just how much we work. As new farmers on top of our thriving young enterprise, we literally work around the clock. Nevertheless, we both agreed we are so in jive with what we’re doing that we couldn’t tell you if we’re clocked in or not at any given time.
It’s incredible to be so naturally in sync with your labor, and your fellow laborer! I will admit I may nitpick once in a while, but I could not be any more pleased getting to work side by side every day with my wife. She wakes up, and grinds, like no one else I know. We never have any genuine quarrels with each other, because we know that we are both always giving it our best.
All that we have been able to accomplish together would be impossible solo. We intuitively cover each others’ blind-spots. We gravitate to our own strengths, she’ll pick up what I put down, and vice versa. It is incredible how smooth it is. I’m not embarrassed to say I would not have the balls to take many of the risks I have if we weren’t doing it together — her faith and confidence emboldens me to take steps I’d previously only dreamed of.
On the occasion of our 2nd anniversary, I wanted to give a shout out to the best partner a man could have. I love you my darling bride!
