Perfectly Paired…by Design! CH’s Very Own Jeff and Susan Floyd

Photo credit: Africa, www.FreeDigitalphotos.net

Since day one, I’ve been captivated by Jeff and Susan Floyd.  Just what makes them tick as a happy couple who also have worked side-by-side for twenty years as part of CH’s buying team extraordinaire?  Don’t think I haven’t asked.  Like a bird dog, I’ve tracked this pair around the world during buying trips hoping to find out, “How do the right people find one another?  “How did you know Jeff was Mr. Right? “What’s the secret to keeping the romance alive?”

Until now, this plucky pair has artfully dodged my queries of their hearts.  However, just in time for Valentine’s Day, they caved!  So here’s their story of romance that’ll warm your heart, make you laugh and give us all hope hope that true love is still there to be found.

Their story begins…

Photo credit: www.UTexas.edu

At the University of Texas (hook ‘em horns!), Susan and Jeff met during their sophomore year via one of Jeff’s frat brothers.  Best friends first, their romance began to blossom during their junior year.  “It may have been love at first sight,” notes Susan with a laugh, “but we were too stupid to notice.”  Then Jeff got a romance wake-up call when his gal got asked to the Texas/OU game by–gasp–another guy. “Ooh, I hated the idea of Susan going to that fun game with someone else so as soon as the game was over, I asked her to ‘go steady.’  It was the sudden competition and fear of losing someone I’d grown to love that got the wheels turning.”

Young love awash with smiles.

Is this “the one” or should I run for the hills?

Although Susan says neither are swooners nor did the thought of fleeing the scene ever enter their minds, Jeff has a slightly different recollection.  “On one of our first dates, Susan wanted to see the horror flick, ‘The Fog.’ Well, that’s not my idea of entertainment because I’m a BIG chicken in scary movies.  Yet, I went anyway and sat through the entire film pinching my lips so I wouldn’t scream like a baby.  I knew then and there–if this girl was willing to put up with that, this just might work.”

How to (or not to) seal the deal

After dating more than a year, Jeff proposed in April of their senior year.  “While driving to the restaurant, I could tell he was nervous and that something wasn’t right,” remembers Susan.  “However, I just thought he was having a moment.”  That’s putting it mildly.  Little did Susan know Jeff had already asked for her hand from her dad, a guy who scared him (ok, kind of terrified him) because he was a such a serious guy.  So by the time the couple had been seated in the restaurant, Jeff’s nerves were on overload and he blurted out, “Well, you know the question. Just go ahead and answer it!”  To which Susan replied, “I have no idea what question you are talking about!”  Fortunately, her nervous nellie soon collected himself. “I gathered wits around me, then asked Susan to spend the rest of her life with me,” says Jeff, “because I couldn’t think of life any other way.”

The happy couple in wedding day bliss.

Only Jeff Floyd would do this at a wedding

Off the pair went to Longview (where Susan grew up) to marry in the Presbyterian church which they filled with friends, family and a string of eleven bridesmaids.  “I couldn’t cull down my close friends so we included ‘em all,” says Susan.  “Jeff mused he was going to have to flag people down in the street to have enough groomsmen for that many bridesmaids.”  The groom didn’t do that but…there was (surprise, surprise) fun underfoot at the reception which was held at the nearby country club.

Only a pair of retail buyers would dance and dip their way toward a then-stylish floral sofa in the room.

“At the end of the night, the groomsmen and I retreated to the men’s locker room so I could change clothes and get ready to leave for our honeymoon,” recalls Jeff.  “Now golfers are known to leave their hats on top of lockers at this country club so ‘someone’ got the notion that we should nab all the hats in sight and wear them out to the waiting crowd.  So we did. I’m told that the golfers at the reception were overheard repeatedly saying, ‘Hey, that young man has on my golf hat!’  We caused quite a stir.”

Still, Susan grabbed her “golfer” and let him accompany her on the honeymoon despite his unexpected headgear (well, they had already paid for the plane tickets to Acapulco).  The stage was set for a marriage–29 years this March, and counting–that’s been filled with love, laughter, respect (both on the job and off) and a pair of good-looking kids; plus, beloved grandson Preston (who just turned two).

Jeff and Susan with son Walter and daughter Laura.

The secret to keeping the romance alive

“We’re not real ‘romancy’ although on Valentine’s Day, we always try to get the  most outrageous cards for each other.  He may put a box of Hot Tamales candy with mine and I’ll cook a better-than-average dinner,” says Susan.  I think real romance is really about remembering–every day–how blessed you are to be with the love of your life. Oh, and it never hurts when Jeff turns up with a box of Pringles Wheat Stix (her fave snack) to share!”

“Also do something unexpected, like showing up with flowers if that’s something you normally never do” adds Jeff.  “And remember this advice which I received from CH co-founder Steve Carlile–’Don’t ever do an employee evaluation on your wife.’ No good can come from that.”