Crafting Love and Creativity: The Story of Don and Teddi
Don, Teddi, and son Ben
In today’s digitized world, finding love is often a mysterious process full of surprise roadblocks and algorithmic pitfalls. Crafting a lasting romantic relationship becomes a sterilized negotiation with a coldly logical machine as arbiter rather than a human endeavor based on natural attraction, mutual respect, and the abiding affection between two people.
Don and Teddi's journey began as an algorithmic match on an internet dating site but soon blossomed into a beautiful partnership that fuels both their personal and creative lives. All they needed was a little nudge from a friend and a dose of serendipity.
Serendipity in Idaho City
It was during a weekend visit in the spring of 2021 with friends in Idaho City when Don first laid eyes on Teddi. A widower, Don had attempted to meet new people through church contacts, hoping to eventually find someone to help fill the void left in his life since the loss of his wife of 53 years. While talking with one of his friends, Ashley, Don admitted he was losing hope that he would ever find another woman to share his life with.
“I told her that I was pretty much over trying to find another partner,” he said.
Hearing the unhappy note of resignation in his voice, Ashley gently prodded Don into trying one last option before he abandoned his quest to find new love indefinitely.
“Let’s go on this dating site,” Ashley suggested encouragingly, “and take a look.”
As they browsed through profiles, one profile caught Don’s eye.
“And here’s a picture of Teddi,” Don said, “and she was born in Montana. That’s when I thought, ‘Well, I’ll go ahead and just text her.”
Teddi, however, was not that easily convinced.
A Journey of Connection
After her divorce, Teddi moved from Montana to Idaho in order to be closer to her seven grown children and nine grandchildren. By the time she received Don’s first text, she had been in the active dating scene for three years and had not found her match.
Teddi is an active and energetic person, and after meeting with numerous men her age, she found that many of them struggled with physical problems and health issues that severely limited the activities they were able to do with her.
When she looked at Don’s profile, she saw that he was 11 years her senior. In Teddi’s typically frank manner, she admitted that her first thought was ‘I’m sick of these old men,’ having written in her dating profile, “I don’t want to be a nurse.”
“He’s 11 years older than me,” said Teddi, “And half of the men that are my age can’t walk!”
In addition to Teddi’s concerns over his potential health issues, she was, like Don, ready to give up on finding a suitable partner altogether. “I was getting really tired of this dating crap,” she said.
Despite her trepidation, Teddi decided to give Don a chance and responded to him. They agreed to meet at a local diner for coffee, and they hit it off right away. Instinctively knowing the way to a woman’s heart, for the second date Don planned a couples pedicure.
A Marriage Built on Support
After their initial meetings, their relationship grew rapidly. A little less than a year later, Teddi and Don married on May 1, 2022. “We have so much in common,” said Don, “that we don’t get tired of being around each other.”
Teddi’s passion for creativity is unstoppable. From decoupage on old suitcases to designing lampshades from thrift store finds, her artistic drive keeps her energized. "When I start feeling bad and down, it’s because I have energy that I haven’t done anything with," Teddi explained.
Don fully supports Teddi’s creative work, giving her the entire basement as a sewing and craft room. “He won’t see me for four of five hours,” Teddi said. Additionally, Don helps her with the products she makes, sometimes repairing or rebuilding the second-hand suitcases and jewelry boxes to make them more durable.
Don’s background as an inventor and entrepreneur gives him a special insight into Teddi’s insatiable creativity and her drive to run a successful business. These are qualities Don values. “(Small businesses) are the real heart of this country,” he said.
When it comes to the shows Teddi sells her projects at, Don’s company is indispensable. “We can set up real quick, and I get to go around and look at other people’s work,” Don said.
While Don is extroverted and enjoys engaging with others, Teddi, who is more introverted, focuses on her art. "Yeah, Don will talk to anybody about anything. I don’t really talk to strangers, but I talk to Don," Teddi remarked.
Their dynamic is a perfect balance: Don thrives in social settings, while Teddi finds fulfillment in the creative process. This complementary partnership allows them to support each other’s strengths and passions.
Together, Don and Teddi exemplify how love and creativity can intertwine to create a fulfilling life. Their story is a testament to taking chances, sharing passions, and building a life of shared dreams and mutual support.
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