My Wife and Best Friend – Jennifer

As I stare at the heaping pile of clothes in the laundry basket, I once again began to think about how lucky I am. I create A LOT of laundry...on any given day I could have dirtied work clothes, gym clothes, cycling clothes, running clothes, swim clothes, yard work clothes, and clothes for any other activity...it's amazing!

This post may seem a bit off the normal race/training topic, but it really does apply. In the midst of some of my most time consuming training, I need to talk about the one person who contributes the most to support me during my training and other pursuits...Jennifer.

I’ve had relationships before, some good, some bad, a few psycho’s…all leading to the very real possibility that I would be a bachelor forever. I was fine with this…I’m not one of those guys who feel the need to have someone to take care of in their life. Actually, quite the opposite, I don’t have the time or energy to babysit. That’s why when I met Jennifer I knew that she would be the one…as long as she would have me (I married way above myself). Luckily she said yes.

I love and appreciate her for so many reasons, and for all that we have in common. She never gives me a hard time about training or racing, ever...I have had to end many relationships for this very reason. She doesn’t need me to be there all the time, or call every minute, or any of those things that are sometimes mandated by our modern U.S. society. There is never any pressure. If I want to race I race, if I want to train, I train…and of course, this works in the other direction.

She understands the value of a dollar and works hard for what she earns. She would rather spend money investing than buying a new purse or shoes or dress, understanding the "big picture" of trying to be financially stable during retirement. Like me, she likes quality products. That means buying for quality, not for name brands sake, or trying to show off the newest designer label. If the product is a better quality, then ok, otherwise she doesn’t care. The stuff she buys comes from TJ Max, Steinmart, Marshall’s, Target, online, or like her name brand purse…free with points from our credit card. She does all this and remains stylish, well dressed, and beautiful.

She’s very successful in her career and makes good money. This is due to her hard work and care for what she does in all aspects of her job. I would not be able to maintain her schedule and job requirements for more than a week. She is the most intelligent woman that I know, and find it very humorous when people underestimate her ability. She was a chemistry major, worked full time while obtaining it, and received it from a real brick and mortar institution. She really knows how to play the game, and let you talk about how smart or good you are (thanks honey)...while maintaining her quiet confidence.

Up between 5-5:30 am and working by 6 am…she balances her workload with doing the dishes, washing the laundry, cleaning, cooking, working on the yard, and a variety of other thankless tasks. Yes, I help with a few of those things, but mostly yard work…and she never complains about it. Not to say that I don't do anything around the house, I do, but she doesn't have a fit when I have to rearrange priorities for training or racing. She understands me and what I do…maybe because she’s a very good cyclist herself and loves to ride? Who knows, but she has shamed me into riding on more than one occasion.

I hear a lot about how busy people are, and how stressful their lives seem…and when I compare some of these folk’s schedules with what my wife does, I always get a chuckle. I guess this is all a matter of perception, but I usually know both sides…so think I make a pretty fair determination. Granted, there are some that warrant the same consideration, but only a select few. I couldn’t do what she does and she always amazes me.

I’m very lucky to have found Jennifer, and I could go on forever about her good qualities…I just want to say thanks to her for all she does. Without her I would be alone and grumpy…now at least I’m not alone :-)

Sween