A Day In The Life – Chelsey Falzone

Where did you grow up?

Lake Elmo, Minn. I grew up a few doors down from a snow tubing hill and a cattle farm. My parents put my twin brother and I to work on building our house throughout our entire childhood, so we learned the value of hard work at an early age.

Where do you live?

Oakdale, Minn. My wife and I just purchased the home my grandma built and lived in for the last 9 years of her life. We are so blessed to be in a space to eventually allow for our future family to grow.  

Who do you live with?

My wife, Becca. We got married in September 2022 so married life in our new home is wonderful!

What is your occupation?

Manager, Youth Engagement – Minnesota Twins. I’ve prayed that I’ll get to do this work someday for the past decade. I help manage our youth baseball and softball programs, and that is an absolute dream come true for me.

When did you come out?

I sort of have been coming out to different groups of people from different areas of my life for the past 10 years. But I mark my most monumental “coming out” moment when my entire extended family came over to our family’s house, where my girlfriend (now wife) and I were living at the time. I knew I couldn’t run from it any longer – I was going to have to address who she was and why she was always around. I avoided coming out to my family for as long as possible out of fear of how this news may harm some of my relationships. I texted each family member minutes before they were supposed to arrive to our house to let them know they’ll be meeting my girlfriend. In hindsight, probably bad timing… but perhaps it was perfect timing!

How’d that go?

That part went amazingly well. Every single one of them responded with love and acceptance. However, that wasn’t the case for my coming out to my parents some months prior to that. Truthfully, however, because my parents have evolved so much since then, I don’t like talking about how they handled that situation. To put it briefly, it was horrible. Absolutely devastating for me. But my parents have evolved so much since then and no longer hold onto the beliefs they once held. They love my wife deeply and support us more than I could ever imagine. They happily walked me down the aisle later last year. They show unconditional love for us, and they have treated my wife as their very own daughter. I know that’s not the story for everyone.

When do you wake up?

About 6:00 AM with an alarm, and literally 7:20 AM every time I don’t set an alarm. I’m programmed to start the day and get stuff done. It can be so annoying!

Phone alarm or old school alarm?

Phone alarm. Hey, back in the day when the power went out overnight, we’d miss the school bus because the alarm would reset! Can’t risk that anymore.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning?

Pour coffee, then shuffle to the living room floor to stretch. Both are a MUST.

Breakfast?

I could eat breakfast three times a day. I usually have a homemade ham, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, or Eggo waffles.  

Coffee?

Definitely! It’s ritualistic. Our favorite is Velvet Hammer, roasted near Rochester, Minn. We keep trying to find one we like better (why do we do that?!), but it’s impossible.

Cream or no?

Coffee Mate French Vanilla creamer. I like sugar!!!

How do you spend your commute?

It depends on my current stress/anxiety levels. It’s old school country music if I’m feeling calm. If I’m stressed or anxious about the day, I’ll listen to Christian hip hop/rap, which is amazingly underrated and misunderstood. And if I’m actually feeling productive and on top of my life (not often), I’ll listen to an audiobook or leadership podcast. But most of the time, it’s some classic country. Or, Brandi Carlile – because, duh!

What do you nerd out for (gaming, music, history, etc.)?

Baseball and biblical studies.

What music have you been digging lately?

Classic country, Americana, and Christian rap.

Is your work space tidy or a hot mess?

When people tell me they walk past my workspace, they usually raise their eyebrows because they’re passive-aggressively telling me they noticed it’s a mess. It’s a hot mess, okay? But it’s all work stuff! We have bobbleheads, hats, jerseys, baseball/softball equipment… and very little storage. My workspace is a mess.

What’s been your favorite job?

Manager, Youth Engagement – Minnesota Twins (current role!). I’ve really loved each of my roles with the Minnesota Twins for similar and different reasons. I’ve needed each one of them to make me the person I am today, so I’m thankful for the places I’ve stopped along the way to my current role. I always say “Embrace your place!” Embracing my place has helped me appreciate each role, and is undoubtedly the reason I’ve been trusted with my current role. 

Favorite weeknight meal: Go out, take out, or cook in?

Breakfast for dinner! All I need is some chocolate chip Eggo waffles. I really don’t cook well so I probably shouldn’t comment much on this topic! My wife tends to say “you get what you get and don’t throw a fit!” She’s an amazing cook; and she makes it look so easy, which I admire. Cooking stresses me out a lot, but I am REALLY good at doing the dishes!

On a usual weeknight, you are doing what?

Probably stressing out about the next day. Jeez, don’t do as I do. But to provide a less dramatic answer, probably being a boring responsible homeowner and tidying the house and doing yard work. Sometimes, though, I’ll feel adventurous and hit up a restaurant with some friends/coworkers.

Bedtime?

Usually around 11:30 PM which is much later than I’d like. I really love my sleep, and I’d prefer more of it!

Favorite weekend activity?

Going over to my parent’s house with my wife to hang with my mom and dad. I love chatting on the deck before having a bonfire to burn brush for my dad. I feel like my world slows down when I’m with them, which is so comforting to me.

What are you most proud of, and why?

I’m proud that I’ve maintained my faith in God through a rough and complicated journey of finding my identity as a gay woman. It’s no secret so many people leave the church – and rightfully so – at some point during their discovery. I completely get it. And I haven’t figured it out because there are still a lot of things that trigger me or really upset me about the church, but I know Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I’m super proud I’ve held onto my faith. It hasn’t always been easy, or clear what I should do or what I believe. But, my mission on this side of eternity is and has always been the same and that’s to glorify God. Additionally, I’m so proud that I get to represent the Minnesota Twins to communities all over Twins Territory. I appreciate the weight of this calling, and I’m honored to do this work.  

Words of wisdom to share:

I just asked my wife what I should say here, and she said, “Don’t half-ass anything,” just as I was saying, “how about the verse, ‘God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to his purpose.’” Romans 8:28. Haha! Both are true. To put it simply: love people deeply, be kind to everyone, let yourself be vulnerable, wear your heart on your sleeve, and be secure in your identity. Life is sweeter and richer when we allow ourselves to fully live.