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June 22, 2007
My Ironsherpa
In case you were wondering... (as defined by Roman)
"An Ironsherpa is the person in your life who carries your load so that you can train and race. It can be your husband or wife. It can be your mother or father, sister or brother or perhaps your best friend.
An Ironsherpa is that person in your life who puts up with all your triathlon talk, who rubs your sore muscles, who cooks your recovery meals, who makes your bed on those early mornings, who takes the kids to school so you can swim, who understands why you prefer a long run to a good movie, who does not mind your constant dress code of workout clothes, who goes to the bike store with you and smiles politely while you discuss the merits of this or that wheel, who gives up his or her vacation plans around your race schedule, who washes your smelly socks, who buys your protein powder, who puts up with your bike lust, who works while you play, who makes your pre-race peanut butter and jelly sandwich, who took up running because you run, who understands why you are too tired, who understands why you really really need to ride today, and who stands in the crowd cheering you on as you cross the finish line."
Not too hard to figure out who my Ironsherpa is 'eh?
On this day 5 years ago O and I were married. It was about this time that the party was ending and he was driving me to the convenience store on the corner by my parent's house so that I could get a big Diet Pepsi. I really was thirsty after all that dancing!
In the anniversary card that O wrote out to me today he said "I believe in you and your dreams and I know you can accomplish them!"
Now let me just say - that's very easy to say that to someone. Very easy. I could spout that out to anyone I see, someone I don't even know. But what isn't so easy is backing up that statement with some incredible self-sacrifice and really meaning it. I know O believes in me. I know it with all my heart. Otherwise he wouldn't have sacrificed so much financially. He wouldn't have given up so much of his time. He wouldn't have put his personal agenda aside for my own dreams. He wouldn't be willing to put our hopes of having a family on hold. But he has done all that and more.
He's gotten up early with me to do workouts. He's spent countless Friday and Saturday nights doing fun stuff like mixing up fluid replacement bottles for my long ride the next morning. He's spent time learning how to take my bike apart and pack it in the carrying case when I'm sure he would have rather been doing something else.
He's sacrificed real vacations for trips to races instead. He's driven hundred of miles already, with many more to come. On race morning he's EVERYWHERE on the course. The day before the race he is meticulously explaining to me where the course goes.
He's worked up to 3 different jobs at a time so we could afford all this. I kid you not.
He's cleaned the whole house, gone for groceries, washed the cars, cut the grass, done the laundry, walked the dog way more than his fair share so I could either do a workout, rest for a workout or think about a workout.
He's rushed to the hospital in a panic after I got hit by a truck and then that same night washed my hair in the hospital shower as I stood there crying in pain.
He's listened to my complaining. He's quieted my own self-doubt. He's encouraged me when I needed it, kicked me in the butt when I needed it. He has celebrated my victories with me and he's been there to comfort my tears. He's been through all the ups and downs right by my side.
And he has never once complained. He has never once asked when it would be over so we could move on with our lives. On the contrary he keeps believing in me and keeps supporting me so I can achieve a dream. I'm convinced that there are very few people in this world like Oscar Shutt. And that I just may be the luckiest girl alive to have snagged him first.
Happy anniversary my love - 5 years down and many, many more to go.
Posted by beth at June 22, 2007 9:58 PM
Comments
Aw shucks. That was very sweet. All of you know how lucky I am to be married to the person whose blog you read every day--she's quite a catch!
Posted by: O at June 22, 2007 10:43 PM
O for President. Let this gentle man run the country. Warriors are enthralling, but Stewards and IronSherpas should be in charge...
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at June 23, 2007 3:55 AM
Corrado, whatcha talkin about? After reading all of this he is way to busy to be President!
Posted by: dawn at June 23, 2007 7:19 AM
To tell you all the truth, when Beth was younger we thought she'd never get married. She was that annoying. :) She's grown up a lot since then, and I think that we have Oscar to thank for a large part of it.
Oscar *is* a great guy, and it makes all of us happy & proud that he's part of our family now too.
Warm wishes for many, many happy years together.
Posted by: B at June 23, 2007 4:09 PM