It’s not every day that your spouse becomes
your coworker or that you celebrate 29 years of marriage during a global
pandemic. Enter Mary and Jim Tharp, a couple that we are proud to call our
co-workers and work family. And especially during these uncertain times, it is
a story like theirs that reminds us that we are all in this together.
On March 16, 1991, Mary and Jim Tharp said “I
Do” at a little chapel in Mesa, Arizona, and the couple hasn’t strayed far from
the roots of where their relationship started. It was in the Grand Canyon state
where they first met, at a Judas Priest concert as 18-year-olds, and where they
have since raised their two boys, Billy and Anthony.
It’s also the place where their journey with
us began. Six years ago, Mary became an employee in our Scottsdale office and
has served in various roles, most recently as a chargeback
specialist. Last October, Jim decided to make a change in his career by
joining us also and now works with our customer agent success team.
As our entire workforce transitioned to a work
from home model three weeks ago in light of COVID-19 precautions, Mary and
Jim’s dedication to our end users, their co-workers, and each other
prevails. Separated by four computer monitors back to back over a shared
six-foot table where their dining room table previously was, the couple has
converted their dining room into a home office.
And while the two work on different teams
and their typical in-office routine consists of breaks and lunch together when
possible, they are still making time to engage with each other and co-workers.
Sharing on one of our online employee communities, Mary said of their 29th
wedding anniversary last week, “If you would have told us when we got
married that we would spend today smiling at each other over our combined four
monitors, working from home over the internet, we probably would have told you
the bar was closed.”
The creativity of their dedicated workspace,
having each other, and a spirit of gratitude and humor have all played an
important role in Mary and Jim’s resilience during COVID-19. Jim says of the
experience, “Sitting across from my wife — I love it.” Referencing a busy house
with everyone being home, Jim teases, “When the kids aren’t at work, walking
around here, the traffic gets really heavy.” Mary says she is grateful that
while she’s working, she can look up anytime and feel grounded that her husband
is right across from her. She admits that she recently brought some levity to
their home by pranking Jim and was happy to share the story with co-workers.
“In an effort to maintain good workplace habits, this morning I opened and
closed every drawer in the kitchen, then went into the living room and told Jim
there were snacks!”
Jokes aside, they share that they miss being
shoulder to shoulder with co-workers in the office, but are grateful they can
contribute to our end users’ own journey home by working from home. “We want
everybody to stay positive, stay upbeat, and stay healthy,” Mary says.
We know that home is everything and during
this uncertain time, home is playing an even more critical role in our lives.
As we navigate the implications of COVID-19, we hope you draw inspiration from
Mary and Jim’s story. At the end of the day, whether we are working
side-by-side with our families at home, connecting with those we hold dear from
digital devices, or supporting each other just further apart, we will get
through this. See you on the other side.
For the latest tips navigating COVID-19 from home and
all things real estate, visit our News & Insights portal.
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