Victoria and Jack met on the 4th of July in 2013. A mutual friend had arranged for a group of people to meet in Huntington Beach to watch the parade downtown. After the parade, everyone decided to go to a local hangout. While munching on appetizers and partaking in libations, someone suggested we play billiards and it was boys against the girls for game one. Jack was with a girlfriend at the time, but she didn't want to play pool. The mutual friend was Jack's teammate and Victoria and her friend were the competition. I won't sugarcoat it. The men beat the women badly that first game! So for game 2, we decided to mix it up. Victoria became Jack's teammate. During Victoria's turn, a very difficult shot presented itself and Jack suggested a double banking shot. It was a longshot. Victoria focused and carefully took aim. She hit the cue ball and, bing, "bank-bank" bong, the ball went in! Everybody oohed and awed at the shot while Jack and Victoria high-fived! Jack looked to his girlfriend who scowled and folded her arms in disgust. It was an innocent moment but that was the beginning of Jack and Victoria.

They met a few more times over the years at the mutual friend's home for a holiday or birthday party but the connection wasn't made until summer of 2021. When they met again and both of them were free.

Sparks flew and they both knew.

On her birthday in 2022, after a wonderful dinner (and tasty desert!) at the Coeur d'Alene resort, Jack asked Victoria to marry him on the porch of the Lakeshore Cottage in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It was a windy, blustery and chilly night. Victoria didn't say "yes."

She said..."of course, I'll marry you!"