Our Story

Gail was 30, and had moved back to Arizona after four years in Utah.  Although she had transferred back to Arizona through work, it took her less than a few months to realize that things were not as they should be at her new job.  Although in a management position, she was not given authority to make personnel changes, and after numerous instances witnessing poor moral judgment being used, she quit.  Her philosophy was that if she didn't feel comfortable recommending it, it was not the place to be.

Not realizing that other job opportunities in the state would provide less pay, she settled with working in an optometrists office.  Although below her normal pay, she worked close to home.  However, it was during this time that she pondered if the decision to move to Arizona was the right one.  She went on Match.com, to find friends, or possibly more.  Having used it in Utah to meet great friends, she thought it was a smart path to take.

Jonathan was 24, and after two back to back four-year relationships, he had spent the last six months single.  Getting to know himself, having fun, but all the while searching for his future.  After a new-years celebration at Desert Ridge with his younger sister, she made the recommendation that he go online to Match.com.  Although very skeptical, he gave it a chance.

Jonathan was the first person Gail met on Match.com in Phoenix, and Gail was the third one Jonathan met.  With Jonathan's first match being a 911-operator, the second being an Archeologist, Gail being the third and a Funeral Director wasn't too far a stretch.  It wasn't quite that simple.  In fact, after meeting his first two matches, Jonathan had gone online to cancel the service, but that was when he received the "wink" from Gail.  A wink on Match.com is a way to let someone know you read their profile and are interested in them, and to allow them to read your profile.  Curious, Jonathan read the profile and sent an email off to find out more.  This took place on April 4th, 2004. Of course, her profession wasn't listed in her profile.  They had exchanged several lengthy emails to each other, when Jonathan recommended that she send them to his work account instead also inquiring what it was she did for a living.  Then it all went silent, well, from Jonathan's point of view.

The emails had not actually stopped, in fact, Gail had sent off three emails to his work account, but received no response.  In fact, she had finally given up and was thinking she had scared him away by providing him with details of her profession.  Meanwhile, Jonathan was thinking that he had scared her away by asking to send emails to his work account.  The silence continued until Gail's sister Joy stepped in, recommending that she send one more email to him via Match.com.  In this email, sent to him (unbeknownst to her) on his birthday (April 12th, 2004) the following text was included: "I hope I did not scare you off by telling you I am a funeral director...I'm really a normal person who just happens to have worked at a mortuary...If you are not interested in talking anymore please let me know so I don't bother you anymore".

The email was not read by Jonathan until May 1st, 2004 (a month after first contact).  It was at this time the problem was identified.  Gail had used the subject line "Hi" in her emails, however, it was during this time a virus was being sent around with "Hi" in the subject line.  Thus, all her emails were being quarantined prior to being received by Jonathan.  

Caught off guard by her "last ditch" email (and the revealing of her profession), several emails ensued, and they eventually met at Starbucks for coffee on May 16th, 2004.  They talked for about three hours, walked around the location and eventually went to their respective homes, but only because they felt they had to bring the date to a close.  It was just great conversation, that neither of them wanted to end.

Although the rest is a blur, the following events took place in roughly the following order:  The second date included dinner at Carrabba's and the movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Afterwards Gail went to meet Tigger for the first time.  The third date was at Desert Ridge, and included a walk and a nice conversation by the fireplace, while watching the kids play in the fountain.  The fourth date, although more a lunch than a date, was at Chili's, and was the infamous "Gail is not happy with work" lunch.  It was during this lunch that she did all the talking, simply venting her frustrations with her work situation.

The next date which took place at Cracker Jax, included a game of miniature golf.  To spice things up, Gail sent an email off to Jonathan that morning stating to make it interesting by coming up with a friendly bet.  Jonathan, being bold, thought, why not bet that if he got a hole-in-one that he would get a kiss.  Of course, talk about your all time backfires, it was probably his first game where he never got a one.  Nevertheless, they were able to enjoy that first kiss later that evening in Gail's apartment.

As time went on, many nights would pass where they would stay up talking, only to realize the sun was coming up and they were due at work.  Even so, they would do it again the next evening, trying as hard as they could to stay awake at work, excited as ever to go home to see each other.

Days became weeks, weeks became months, and months have now become years.  They spend every free minute with each other, their dogs Sierra, Lucy and Tigger, and are happy to be planning their wedding.