Welcome to our family story.
The first pic in this group, our earliest picture. We were with JC & Noreen in Sausalito. Shortly after this pic was taken we found ourselves at the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point (off Conzelman Rd, Hawk Hill) to view the sunset. I'm sure they conspired to set us up. It was cold so naturally as the sun started to set it was getting colder. I was hugging her from behind and my chin was on her right shoulder as we watched the sunset. I started kissing her neck then she turned, looked me in the eye, and we kissed. This was our first.
Where it all began, my home town of San Francisco, 1991.
This is something that I wouldn't have thought to do on my own. In creating a headstone design for my recently departed wife of 23 years (love you dearly sweetheart) I decided to install a QR code that points visitors here.
My wife was a very precious gift from God and I had to think of a unique way to honor her memory.
Jones Family Legacy
One of my best friends, JC, was coming home from the Air Force. When he arrived in S.F. the first thing he did was look up a girlfriend (hi Noreen). A few days after he arrives I get a call to come over to his girlfriend's apartment to watch a movie. Little did I know that they both wanted me to meet her roommate.
I walk into their apartment and just inside the door is the first bedroom on the left. The door was open and as I walk past I glanced over and caught the eye of a beautiful girl talking to a male friend of hers (he was trying his best to convince her to go out with him but I thank the Lord she wasn't interested). I remember that as our eyes met we both shared a smile. I knew at that moment that something very real is going on and my heart started racing.
JC and Noreen set up the movie and were sitting on the sofa. I was sitting at their dining table then I moved to sit on the floor with my back against the sofa and we waited until Mia's guest left. She soon came into the room and sat next to me on my right. Almost 26 years later now and I can still see her leg (she was wearing shorts) up against my right shoulder out of the corner of my eye. As my dearest Mia would have said, I was "twitterpated" (thank Mr. Walt Disney for that). My heart was trying to jump out of my chest. I don't remember the movie in fact I don't remember paying attention to it. I would have been the last person to believe in love at first sight but this is exactly what it was.
From that day forward, I only had her on my mind.
She graduated UCSF in 1994 and moved back to La Habra (SoCal). About a week later my friend Renato visited me and my relationship with Mia was brought up. I was lost without her and Rene knew it. He just simply asked me "what are you still doing here?". I called my Mother immediately after and we got a ring. I then got on a plane and chased after her. I remember standing in her driveway when she got home from work. She was so excited. She got out of her car and practically yelled in surprise "what are you doing here?" followed by a run into my arms that I'll never forget.
The intent was to propose over dinner at Red Lobster (one of her Dad's favorites) but I couldn't do it.
Later at her house I was looking for the right moment but she was distracted. She just had to watch her favorite show Grey's Anatomy. I waited until it was over. In the last few minutes of the show I told her Mom I was going to do it and walking into the living room I got on one knee and asked her to be my wife. She kept yelling "no you didn't, no, no, no". I was relieved when she said yes and leaned over to give me a hug.
We were in love. 23+ years later and two fantastic children and nothing changed. We were still in Love.