It seems like a lifetime ago I was working as a beer-cart girl in a golf tournament to benefit Women in Need. He ordered a beer from me on the 18th hole, but I didn't pay attention to him. Later, when everyone was at the clubhouse for the awards ceremony, I was sitting at a table with my friends and he tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and looked up, and in his best Rocky Balboa voice, he said, "Hey, I'm Tim Jones, can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?" I barely looked at him and said, "No," then turned back to my friends.
About a month later, I was again with my girlfriends at a local pub where a lot of professionals gather at the end of the day. Once again, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and once again he used that same pickup line...."Hey, can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?" Once again, I said, "No," then turned back to my friends. This time, they all stopped talking and one-by-one chastised me for being so rude. Why in the world would I say yes? I have no clue who that guy is, and no desire to go out with ANYONE. When he left, I saw him get into a brand new yellow Corvette and pull out of the parking lot. Figures...he's probably got an ego to go along with that car. Besides, he talks like Rocky Balboa.
Another month went by, and I was at a dance club with my girlfriends. This time, a creepy dentist was trying to pick up on me. He made the mistake of trying to draw me closer to say something to me by wrapping his arm around my neck and pulling me into him. LINE CROSSED! I don't like being touched by strangers in a bar...much less being placed in something of a choke hold. I shoved him with everything I had, and as he toppled over, it had a domino effect and several other people went down with him. The bouncers immediately surrounded me and began to escort me out of the bar.....and then "Tim Jones" came over and jumped to my defense. I hadn't even noticed that he was there. "It wasn't her. He's been messing with her all night and she's tried to make him go away politely, but he wouldn't listen. I watched the whole thing." They escorted the dentist out the door and apologized to me.
A few minutes later, I headed to the restroom and he was in the hallway. As I passed by, he said, "Now can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?" I didn't even turn around, just said, "No," over my shoulder and kept walking. Just as I started to push on the bathroom door, he yelled, "Why the hell not!?" I stopped, rolled my eyes, took a deep breath, turned around and walked right back over to him....and gave him my speech:
"Let me explain something to you. I have a little boy. I'm raising that little boy all by myself. I only get one night of freedom each week. For one night, I don't have to be anyone's REALTOR®, Mother, daughter, sister, or anything else. I get to be plain ol' Lina Robertson. I can hang out with my friends and let my hair down. I don't have to worry about how I look, whether or not anyone is happy with me, or whether I'm making someone else happy. The last thing I want to do is waste my one night of freedom on some pretentious date, with some pretentious man, pretending to be something I'm not, while you pretend to be something you're not. So why don't we not, and just pretend we did, okay?"
I spun on my heel and went on in to the restroom. I forgot about him for the rest of the night. As we were leaving, a girl came running up behind me and said, "Excuse me, my friend really wants to go out with you." I said, "Tall guy, dark hair? What part of 'no' doesn't he understand?" Then she gave me HER speech:
"He says you won't go out with him because you have a little boy. He has a little boy, too. He's an AWESOME Dad, a GREAT friend, and he would make the BEST boyfriend you ever had.....and I'm just really glad YOU will never find out." SNAP!!!
She spun on HER heel and walked away. My friend Holly said, "Oh my....who in the world does she think she is?" I was stunned. I followed my friends to the car while they were all making their indignant comments about the girl, and telling me how rude she was, etc. I finally said, "I hate to admit it, but I think I deserved that one."
In the next couple of weeks, I wondered about him and who he was. I looked him up in the tax records (isn't that what REALTORS® do?....LOL). Turns out, he lived less than a mile from my office. On my way back to the office one day, I detoured through the neighborhood. There was the yellow 'vette....and beside it was a shiny new yellow Hummer. Yep....that was his house. And really....what's up with the flashy yellow cars? Mid-life crisis? Probably. I'm sure the guy's a player. Come on....he's 6'6', tall, dark, handsome....he's probably dated half the women in Springfield. I SURE didn't need THAT! He should just putter on down the road in his little yellow 'vette, talking his "Rocky" talk....and leave me alone.
Then, that Saturday night, my friends had a surprise birthday party for me. As we're all standing around talking, me and the girls were reliving that night at the bar. That's when one of the guys chimed in and said, "Are you talking about TJ? He's a GREAT guy! Why won't you go out with him, Lina?" I don't know....maybe because I don't know him? Hello! He picked up his cell phone and I heard him say, "TJ....there's someone here who wants to talk with you." He shoved the phone in my hand and I tried to shove it back to him, but I finally just bit the bullet, put it up to my ear and said, "Hey. I'm sorry I was so rude to you. I just don't know you, or anything about you, and I never make a habit of accepting dates with men within the first 2 seconds of meeting them. So, would you like to come down here to my birthday party?" Dead silence. Finally, I heard, "No," and the phone clicked and went dead. (Sigh) Yep....I deserved that one, too.
15 minutes later, my friend said, "Hey Lina...look who just walked in the door." There he was. I was standing up and for the first time I realized how incredibly huge 6'6" tall men are. He walked right over to me, and in front of everyone, he said, "Last time I ask....can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?" I was so embarrassed, but I just smiled and said, "Sure, I'd love to."
That was September 30, 2005. We've been together for 5 1/2 years now. We don't get out as much anymore. As a matter of fact, it's pretty rare when we do. But we don't miss it. Both of our careers have consumed most of our free time, and we have been through a lot of ups and downs together these past few years. The yellow 'vette and yellow Hummer were traded for a new Suburban. Through it all, he's been my rock, my best friend, and the only REAL Dad my son has ever known. I still get butterflies when he walks in the room. He's better than any hero in any romance novel I've ever read.
Last fall, my son was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. He's only 12. I was devastated. The night before Thanksgiving, still in the midst of my depression, Tim took me to dinner. As we were talking, he reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring and said, "I love you, and I love Logan more than you could ever imagine. I want you and Logan to know I'll be here for you both...forever. But I want to do that as your husband. Will you marry me?" Of course, I said yes. :)
So....Saturday, May 21st, I'm going to marry Tim. I feel like all those dreams I had as a little girl are coming true. I found my knight in shining armour. Okay...all right....so he found me. LOL I may be a little slow....but I'm not stupid. And this time, I promise to say yes.....the FIRST time I'm asked.
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Lina Robertson Jones
Owner/Agent
RE/MAX Solutions
1715 James River Road
Ozark, MO, 65721 |
Mobile: (417) 844-7265
linarobertson@remax.net
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RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!
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About the author: I am full-time REALTOR® with RE/MAX Solutions in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®. I have helped hundreds of families in the Springfield, Nixa, Republic and Ozark real estate markets, whether buying a home, or selling a home. Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings. Want to know what our market is like? My website is also an excellent resource for current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports, as well as current market reports for Ozark, Nixa, Republic, and Rogersville.
Heck with you...WAY TO GO TJ!!!!
;-)
He hung in there....kept asking....NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!!!!
I am happy for you both, congrats and I wish you YEARS OF HAPPINESS!!!!
(and all my best to your little one as well.....)
Congratulations Lina! Very heart-warming and motivational post.
Lina congratulations it is visible that you are very much in love, we all get second chances and its great to see happiness always! Best wishes please share wedding photos with us :)
Persistant fellow! At 5 1/2 years sounds like he is a keeper!
Lina: Congratulations! I think you handled everything just right....it all worked out in the end, didn't it. Here's to many years of happiness for all of you.
Lina, what a beautiful story. I'm thrilled for all three of you! I'll be thinking about you on May 21!
Lina... what a story. I read the entire post. I think this could end up as a "made for TV" movie on Lifetime. :) I also looked at all of the pictures as they slid by. The two of you look so happy together. I wish you two all the love your hearts can hold. "suggested"
And yes... I will be thinking about the three of you on May 21, as well. "Here Comes the Bride !"
Lina> Congrats! <tear> I couldn't stop reading.... good think his friends were there listening to you guys.... What an amazing story and I wish all the best for you both and Logan as well~ Here's to much success and happiness~ ;)
Great story Lina. Congratulations and many happy years to both of you.
Congrats - you have found the greatest love of all! Love, Honour, Cherish...and NEVER be bored! You are a beautiful couple - lovely pics! Best wishes for a beautiful wedding day.
This is a beautiful story, Lina, and the pictures are wonderful! You look so happy! I think your story sounds like a movie - a chick flick with a happy ending. Congratulations!
Lina, congratulations - an excellent story and the way you said it..(I mean wrote it!)
Good Luck for a happily married life...
All the best is wished for the two of you and your family. A beautiful Love Story. Thanks so much for sharing, it is truly inspirational. Congratulations! May you all be Blessed with many, many years of Joy, Happiness and Love.
Yours is a wonderful story. I wish you a lifetime of love - and improving health for your precious child.
There are always posts that make me laugh. At least once a week there is a post that brings tears to my eyes. This is the first post in a LONG time that has made me laugh and made me cry in just a couple of paragraphs.
I LOVED his response when you invited him to your birthday party. Freaking classic!! That's exactly how I would have responded. I think I would get along great with your soon to be husband.
When I was young, my cousin had Muscular Dystrophy. He is, in many ways, the reason I am who I am. Him and my mom are the two biggest influences on my life, without question. I used to sit and read the dictionary with him. He would quiz me on the dictionary........I was 6. Later, when I was about 8, we would do the same thing with the encyclopedia. (needless to say I'm a pretty decent Jeopardy player these days). He taught me to play chess, taught me critical thinking skills and most of all, taught me to treat everyone with respect. I don't have many vivid memories from my childhood that don't involve my cousin Eddie. Your son has the same chance to inspire. I'm sure with two great parents he will.
Congratulations on finding your knight. I found the love of my life not long ago..........she only said no to me once :-P
Awesome.
Congratulations! What a story. It's a good thing you two had such good friends.
You look so happy together in the photos.
Such a sweet story. I'm happy for both of you. I guess his persistence paid off.
That is the most awesome love story....wish both of you the best on your wedding day and your marriage.
❦ LINA, what a beautiful story! I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes... Loved reading your "love story". NOW that you have us all hooked please keep us in the loop with videos, pictures of the wedding and of course of you and your new "family"... Wait I just found the pictures... ahhhhhhhhhhhh ~ all the best to all of you!
Pamela
Wow.
Speechless. I am very happy for you both.
Congratulations. That is such a great story. I love Bob's comment, too.
What a beautiful story; I had tears in my eyes when I finished reading. I wish you all a wonderful wedding day, and an awesome life together.
No picture, no colored font, no bullet points...and yet, one of the best posts I have ever read...captivated by your writing style and your story.
It is scary dating someon when you have little people...happened to me too. But thankfully I too said yes...and now those little people are grown kids and they know what real love looks like...
Congratulations! Looks like a match made in Heaven. Have a wonderful life!
Oh, Lina,
What a great story! I'm wishing you all a fairy tale ending many, many years down the road...
Much love and happiness to you and TJ. He's certainly a keeper!
Wow Lina I have to say I really enjoyed reading this. You are quite the B*****ch!!! Just my kind of woman!! I married my own B***ch going on 30 years now. I wouldn't have her any other way. Strong men need you gals. You keep us on our toes.
TLW came with twin boys who were 8 at the time we met. At 9 they all moved in with me. At 33 one had his and his entire family's (wife and 4 kids) last name changed to Tutas. I guess he finally accepted me as dad :)
Congratulations!!
Thanks so much, everyone! I have been so incredibly busy the past few months that I haven't had much time to devote to the wedding. But now that I'm forced to sit down and focus on the last minute details, I'm getting excited about the wedding.
Last night we had to sit down and finalize our song selections for the reception, and when Tim chose "Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)" as our entrance song, it brought back a lot of memories of when we met....and I had to laugh. It's the perfect song. :) I haven't really shared the story of how we met much before, so I decided that was the perfect blog for me last night.
Rather than have a father/daughter dance, I've chosen to dance with my son. We're going to dance to Garth Brooks' "Nothing That I Wouldn't Do." I bought the CD a couple of months ago and have been listening to it in my car trying to "de-sensitize" myself to it so I won't blubber too bad and ruin my makeup....but it's not working. I still can't hear it without crying now. Wish me luck on that. LOL
Bob...you're right....you and Tim would get along famously. He's a man's man, sports addict, high-fiving kind of dude. He certainly didn't win me over with his sweet talk or Romeo ways, but his heart is in everything he does and you can see it clearly through his rough edges. He can be a complete stud one moment, and soften in an instant when me or my son look to him. When Logan first got his leg braces, a kid at his bus stop started bullying him. We can see the bus stop from our front window, and I saw something happening, but wasn't sure what was going on. I asked Logan about it later that night and he told me the kid was making fun of him. The next morning, as Logan walked out to the bus stop, rather than head out to his truck, Tim walked behind Logan to the bus stop. He stood behind Logan with his arms crossed over his chest and stared at the bully. He never said a word. He didn't have to. But Logan definitely stood a little taller that day, and Tim hasn't had to follow him to the bus stop since. It's times like that when I fall in love with him all over again. I can't imagine what we'd do without him.
Lina, thanks so much for sharing your wonderful story. You've made my day. Best of wishes for your wedding and a wonderful life together.
fabulous story. I wish you all the very best!
Hi Lina, laugh, cry, laugh and cry again. Couldn't stop reading! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I wish all 3 of you a bright and happy future!
GOOD MORNING LINA! I read your story a few times ... it's beautiful. I can only imagine what kind of a wedding it will be for you all! Congratulations!
Awesome story, Lina. It's nice to read such a genuine, different story here on ActiveRain. Best of luck to you and Tim!
Wow, what a great story! Congratulations! So you did marry up! Up to a 6" 6' man. LOL.
That is a great story! Best Wishes!
Lina,
I never and I mean never read long blogs, but this had the story movies are made up of. I shouted for kleenex when you wrote that "he had a little boy too." Oh my .. whaaa...... please write more blogs and I'll buy your first book.
boo hoo... so schweet.
great meeting you and your wonderful mom. hope to see you guyz in dallas.
Lina,
This is great stuff. I wish more men would realize that you can't attract a complete stranger with "Lets go to dinner" I'm glad it worked out for you two in the end and I'm glad your happy!
Don't forget to go out on dates still though. Keep the flame strong, it will keep your marriage healthy.
- Steve
Congratulations to you both!!!! This actually made me cry (i'm a sucker for a good love story). Cherish this wonderful love that you have found and it will pull you through the difficult times that may pop up from time to time. I look forward to the wedding pictures and I wish your son well as he struggles with his health.
Hi Lina - We love it when you gals play hard to get! My Emilye and I dated for 5 years after I finally won her over. She was one tough cookie ;) I'm the one with the kid in this story - I have a lovely daughter.The two girls hit it off from day 1 - picking on me as we drove upstate to go apple picking- i've never felt so loved ;)
This was a great read!
Emilye and I will be married on the 22nd! Best wishes and Blessings to you and TJ!
Lina: How very sweet! It was so well written (from the heart) that I read the whole thing! How lucky of you to have found someone so special...sounds like he is crazy about you and has been from the start. Good luck to the two of you and may the sun shine on you both for a good long time--OK, for-ever!
Wow Lina, What a wonderful love and success story. Congratulations to both you and Tim...
Lina I am so very happy for the both of you! You are one tough cookie but it sounds like the right man came along and finally made you crack. I'm sure you will make a stunning bride and I hope to see pictures when you post about it. A Spring wedding to two lovebirds sounds quite amazing to me. I wish you all the luck in the world! Blessings!!!
Walt Disney should be notified immediately and at the minimum, a movie of the week...Love happens..the true story of Tim & Lina....a tale as old as time....
Lina,
You were certainly a hard one to nail down. Wish I could see a picture of Tim. Sounds like you all are meant to live life to its fullest. Congratulations... g
Wow! Great story and yes, I read ever word in it. Congratulations on finding someone who truly makes you happy!
What a great story. Congratulations and best wishes!
What a great story- Congratulations, and miracles and good things DO happen to people! It often is better the 2nd time around!
Wow, Lina, That is some story ! My daughter gets married in about 4 hours. Her story is not as dramatic as yours but just as remarkable. Best wished to you and TJ !
Congratulations Lina. What a great story. You all look so great together. I'm glad you said yes!
My story is similar to yours, but it didn't take me as long to realize what a great guy he was. We've been together for 16 years now!
Lina,
Congratulations! That is an awesome story. I too have my own story of how we found each other but will leave it for another day. I am so happy for you guys.
What a great story. Definitely movie material. It can't be a true story! Congrats to both of you and good luck.
Wow Lina! This was truly a beautiful story. I was moved to tears. I am so happy for you ALL and I wish you ALL the very best that life has to offer. Congratulations and thanks for the laughter and tears! :-)
Congratulations Lina! Well I knew this was coming but not the story behind it. I also liked the ring story too. I'm so happy for you and the entire family.
Looks like I've been asking women out all wrong, sheesh! LOL
Lina, that is a great story! Good luck next week & I hope everything goes smoothly for the rest of your lives together.
Great love story Lina! I can so relate to how you felt before. You give me hope to not give up on finding the right one... thanks for sharing
Congratulations Lina! Thank you for sharing your beautiful story of love. My daughter was married seven months ago so I know how special this time is for you!
Great Story! Congrats to all of you and many many more years of happiness!
What a great story and so fun to read for a change. I don't even know you and I'm happy for you and excited for your future. Best wishes!
Gretchen
Poor guy, I hope you are worth it . . .
You sure prove it true, good things come to those who wait & persevere.
Though you gotta admit, you're lucky TJ didn't finally give up.
Best of luck on May 21 and forwards.
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! Thank you for sharing with all of us at Active Rain
Lina, what a nice story. Wishing you and your family lifetime of happiness. Gives me a little hope :)
Congratulations Lina & Tim!!! How's it going new bride?
Congratulations. Thanks for sharing your good story. It might make a movie.
Yes. is a wonderful word.
OK, over a month later and I still think about this post. And we still have 3 months before our 10th anniversary. I just love this story.
following up on recent post...why would you hesitate to take his name professionally? He sounds like a great guy.