It All Started with a Peanut Butter Sandwich
Picture this: you're in the midst of a conversation with coworkers about the best sandwich combinations, and you drop the bombshell. Peanut butter and mustard. The reactions? Equal parts disgust and disbelief. Yet, for me, it's more than just a quirky pairing; it's a beloved blend of salty and sweet that brings comfort on long days. It’s a simple pleasure, and one that’s been a staple of my life ever since my Pepere—my grandfather—introduced it to me growing up.
After reminiscing about this culinary oddity, I decided to dig into its origins. I went straight to the source: my mom and grandmother. Surely this sandwich must hold some grand secret, a recipe passed down through generations. As it turns out, there was no great mystery. Pepere just liked peanut butter and mustard. That revelation was almost poetic in its simplicity.
It got me thinking about how much of who we are is shaped by the people we love. From Pepere, I inherited not just a love for this unconventional sandwich, but also a sense of joy in simple pleasures. From my grandmother, I carry a green thumb, a lot of grit, and a passion for nurturing life in the garden. From my mom, I’ve absorbed creativity, compassion, and an artistic eye that colors the way I see the world.
And now I wonder—what will I pass down to those who come after me? Will it be my love of bees, the little pollinators that inspire my work and daily life? A respect for nature, perhaps? Maybe even a quirky sandwich combination of my own? The beauty of it all is that we can never quite know.
What I do know is that these pieces of ourselves—our values, quirks, passions, and joys—are meant to be shared. Much like bees returning to their colony with the treasures they’ve collected, we bring what we have to our communities, our families, and our chosen families.
Through the lessons I’ve learned, I’ve come to value the beauty of hard work, the importance of integrity, and the transformative power of kindness. These gifts, given to me by those I’ve loved, have shaped who I am and fueled my drive to create something meaningful.
When I opened The Backyard Bee, my goal was never just about bees. It was about people—our connections, our shared quirks, and the ways we can care for one another and the natural world. I carry with me the humor, wisdom, and lessons of so many people who’ve touched my life. The Backyard Bee wouldn’t exist without them, and it wouldn’t be becoming what it is without the community that’s rallied around it.
So, here’s my thanks—to Pepere and his unconventional love for peanut butter and mustard, to the gardeners, artists, and visionaries in my family, and to everyone who’s shared their own stories and values with me. In the end, it’s never just a sandwich.