In early October, 2005, Father Anthony, my priest here in Colorado Springs, mentioned there was a man he wanted me to meet. When I made it clear I wanted no part in his match-making ambitions, he casually said, “That's fine, he's a married priest.”
Three days later I met Father Daniel and his wife, Matushka Mariamna, my future in-laws. That day Fr Daniel told me he had a son who he (and Fr Anthony) thought I might be interested in meeting, this son might even be someone I’d want to marry. (I went back to Fr Anthony to tell him that was an awfully sly trick, not knowing that months later I would be back to thank him for it).
One week later, as I’d already planned, I drove over the mountains to Gunnisun to visit my newly married friends, Eleni and Davi. They drove me on to Delta, CO for vespers and to meet this Benjamin Jones. I actually stood in the Narthex paralyzed in fear before I could compose myself enough to join them for the service. People generally do not intimidate me, but this Benjamin Jones, whom had never met, had me trembling. I knew he was in there somewhere along with, perhaps, the rest of my life.
That evening Davi, Eleni and I joined the Jones’ for dinner and I got to form my first impressions of the tall, dark-haired and handsome man who'd been set up with me. And now it is the thrilling memory of a momentous weekend.