After having a lovely conversation with Dr. Michael Rischbieter and Mrs. Diane Rischbieter, I was able to walk away with more knowledge about them and advice on how to maintain a loving and healthy relationship.
Like the majority of couples in the world, they squabble about the story of how they met and how they felt when they first met each other but in the end, even after Mrs. R gave him an ultimatum before leaving for UNC Chapel Hill for his Ph.D. program (propose and move in together or break up), their feelings and love for each other have never gone away. Before this, they always took classes together, helped each other out, and studied together.
They have been working together at PC for about 35 years and have both loved having each other around, especially being in the same department. Mrs.R says that the space between their offices benefits them rather than being right next to each other so they aren’t constantly asking to do little things for each other. Dr.R says, “It’s good to be here; we really do cover for each other a lot. I couldn’t have done most of what I have been able to do without your cover.” They elaborated that they have been able to support each other when one needs the other in different ways. Whether it is to run to grab something from the mailroom or gather specimens needed for the labs and so forth, they are so happy to do this for one another.
Many married couples would need to be separated from each other for a while to have some space. Mr.R and Mrs.R say they have loved working together and the times they come into work differ, allowing them to have some space and individuality from one another. There are even some days when they barely see each other, believe it or not!
An important aspect of their relationship is the fact that they bond over what excites them both. Mrs.R says, “We both really enjoy biology and get excited by various aspects of biology.” This allows them to stay connected to the roots of their relationship, as they are both passionate about botany and paleontology. This validation from one another gives them the ability to complement each other very well. Their favorite memories of working together are when they would take the students to Alabama and, of course, the Galapagos Maymester trips.
They both agreed that the key to why their marriage has been such a success is due to their humor and patience with each other. The words they use to describe their relationship are “never dull” as they take turns teasing one another and always have something going on.
The advice that they would give to all of the PC couples out there is to live in the moment, enjoy the person right now for who they are and what they are doing, enjoy the connections in the present, and not put so much pressure on a future that is still so uncertain.
They are both very in love and will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this June! Mrs.R wonderfully states, “He is my beloved,” and after sitting down with both of them, that is very clear.