In the years we’ve been together, I never imagined I’d discover new facets of my partner, Daniel, while he worked from home. After more than two decades together, I thought I knew him well, but COVID-19 turned our daily lives upside down, revealing a side of him I had never encountered before—a ‘work laugh.’ During a recent Zoom call, his laughter erupted unexpectedly, a sound I had never heard before, filling our home with an energy that was both surprising and delightful.
Daniel is usually the calm to my stormy personality, a steady presence that rarely shows emotion. I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen him genuinely angry, while I tend to express myself quite dramatically. So, this new, boisterous laughter caught me off guard and challenged my perception of him.
As I observed him over the following days, I began to uncover more surprising qualities about his work persona.
He’s Left-Handed (At Work).
This revelation shocked me. While he’s naturally right-handed, I found his mouse positioned on the left side of his workstation. He explained that he decided to give it a try, and it turns out he’s been navigating the mouse with his left hand for years. I can’t fathom why he would choose to complicate his life further when using his dominant hand is already a challenge!
He Has a Work Nickname.
Just like many couples have their sweet nicknames, Daniel has a work moniker—“Dave.” While it’s a shortened version of his name, it’s not the name he’s ever used before. Hearing “Dave” feels as jarring as when my kids call me by my first name. I’m left wondering how this name change came about. Did a coworker introduce it, or did he let it happen? It’s bizarre to hear others refer to him as “Dave,” much like his newfound work laugh.
He Practices Office Yoga.
While I lounge on the couch typing away, Daniel sits straight as an arrow at the dining table. His choice of a bench chair is intentional; he believes it helps correct his posture by engaging his core. To me, it looks like he’s working out while I’m comfortably slumped in my pajamas.
His Memory Surprises Me.
I’m genuinely impressed by his ability to recall intricate details from work calls while I struggle to remind him of our anniversary. He often replies, “I’ll never remember that. Just email it to me.” Yet, during his work hours, he’s a whirlwind of focus, managing multiple demands with patience and clarity, remembering minute details from hours-long meetings while I’m left bewildered by his selective memory.
He Cherishes His Office Supplies.
As our dining room has transformed into his chaotic office space, I’ve learned that he has an impressive collection of pens, arranged in vibrant colors, which he insists I must never touch. This newfound obsession with office supplies is quite a departure from my own carefree approach to household items!
He Has a Sweet Tooth.
At the end of each day, our family gathers around the TV for dessert. My daughters munch on cookies while I indulge in my gluten-free treats. Meanwhile, Daniel—the health-conscious one—has been stashing sweets from client gift baskets in his office for himself and his coworkers. Who knew that beneath his healthy exterior lay a hidden stash of chocolates and cookies?
This quarantine has unveiled a different side of the man I thought I knew completely. Daniel now exhibits a lively and animated persona during the workday, displaying warmth and attentiveness towards his coworkers that I never witnessed before. It leaves me pondering how the rigors of his former commute may have muted his vibrant work self, and I wonder if this new dynamic will shift the way we view work-life balance moving forward.
I’m grateful for this unexpected opportunity to learn more about my partner and witness his impressive skills in his work environment. I hope this new version of “Work Dave” becomes a lasting presence in our home.
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