Letter: From the Azores to Elk Grove, a Love Story

Editor's Note: From the depths of the electronic Elk Grove Patch mail bag comes the serendipitous love story of Mary Pires and her husband Frank. Mary sent us this note last month after we profiled her Franklin Blvd boutique, Imagine That. In honor of Valentine's Day, we're reposting it here.

"We have a really interesting story on how we got here and we would like to share it with you. My husband and I were both born in the Açores [Portugal], on the island of Terceira about four miles apart. 

I moved to Lodi, Calif. when I was two-and-a-half years old in 1969, to Turner Road.  Frank moved to Lodi from the Açores in 1974, to Turner Road. He was 14 years old.  We never met.  Our parents knew each other, but our paths had never crossed. 

I have a cousin that brought him by my house in 2003.  He said, 'I have these good-looking single guys,' and my response to him was, 'The only reason that I need a man is to mow the lawn.'

Four years later, I went to a birthday party for my cousin's daughter and Frank was there.  He was playing cards and I was helping him, and one thing led to another.  He asked if he could call and I said yes.  We were married on November 1, 2008. Frank's running joke at our wedding was, 'When I met Mary, she said that she only needed a man to mow the lawn. I wasn't looking for a job.' It was quite funny. 

Frank has a dairy on Franklin about three miles away from our store.  I am not sure if you remember the tragic accident of a mother and daughter that had been hit and killed by a train in March of 2001.  That was Frank’s wife and daughter.

There have been a great many turns of events in our lives. Since we were married, we have lost both of our fathers. We really cannot imagine going through any of that without one another.  I really do believe that he was heaven-sent, and he says the same about me. It is funny how we ran in the same circles, but the time wasn't right.

We are working really hard to have a successful family business. Lord only knows how hard it is these days.  It has been a very fun and exciting journey.  We both stay extremely busy, but we know that a family that work, plays, eats and prays together, stays together. 

Sincerely, Mary & Frank Pires"

Elk Grove singles, take note: Your true love could be right under your nose.