In 1998, two tech geeks collided at a computer convention in Atlanta.
Jeannie Christensen and Tim Copley squared off in a booth demonstrating
voice-over-Internet technology. Tim presumed to teach Jeannie how it worked.
She shot back, "Would you like me to explain it to you?"
Tim liked her spunk. "She was so intelligent. And working on her
master's degree at the time. She definitely had me impressed."
Jeannie liked Tim's intelligence. "We're both technically inclined. . .
. Also, so many men don't want to do anything new or learn anything new, they
just lay on the couch. I needed to be challenged."
The two network engineers shared a love of the latest technology.
Both were divorced. Jeannie, from Rochester, N.Y., and Tim, from Battle Creek,
Mich., began dating long-distance after the convention. On their first date in
Atlanta, Jeannie told Tim she had seven children. When he didn't seem fazed by
that, she told him she had three daughters, ages 8, 7 and 4.
Four months into dating, Tim moved to Rochester and began working for IBM. The
couple dated exclusively for the next two years.
Marriage was discussed, but each had been scarred by divorce. Tim and Jeannie
also wanted to make sure the union would be ideal because of Jeannie's
daughters.
After getting a job at Global Crossing, Tim was transferred to Arizona in 2001.
For two more years, the couple engaged in long-distance dating. It felt wrong.
In 2003, Jeannie and her girls also moved to Arizona. Soon after, Tim proposed
marriage. "We just knew we were better together than apart," he said.
He intended to propose at a fancy restaurant, but when Jeannie came home from
work, she was in a foul mood and wanted to eat fast food. So they went to Sonic,
where Tim proposed. He presented her a three-carat diamond ring.
Jeannie was impressed, but felt that the $6,000 3 carat ring was extravagant.
She asked whether they could return it for one that cost $3,000. Tim liked that
she was practical, but Jeannie also was shrewd. She asked for the difference in
the cost of the rings and bought herself a 62-inch TV.
Now, they needed to pick a date, and the two settled on Feb. 29, 2004. Leap Day.
Jeannie, now director of information technology for the Herberger College of the
Arts at Arizona State University, and Tim, principal development engineer for
Global Crossing, said their choice had to do with another shared trait.
"Neither one of us is real good at remembering dates," said Tim, 39.
Now, they have to remember their anniversary only every four years, though they
do try to recognize a late-February anniversary the other three years. But they
don't always remember.
"Sometimes it's a week into March before we realize that our anniversary
has come and gone," said Jeannie, 45.
This year, on their first official anniversary, the Phoenix residents will take
a cruise with their family to the Mexican Riviera. They won't forget the day
they bought the 3 Carat Diamond Anniversary Ring
Reach the reporter at sonja.haller @arizonarepublic.com or
602-444-8998.
