By Kristine Thomas
The milestones in a person’s life are accompanied by a great deal of change.
For Maggie Jones and John Parenteau, change has been a constant companion. They each married, traveled, switched jobs, cared for family members and divorced other people.
But they discovered some things stay the same. Take the magic of a kiss. Whether a kiss of discovery in sixth grade or rediscovery in one’s 40s. Despite all the cynical stories about failed romance, they know true love exists and it’s possible to meet the boy or girl of your dream at a very young age.
But, as John would point out, that’s skipping a big chunk of the story.
John and Maggie went to Silver Crest Elementary School until Maggie moved to town in middle school. They reconnected at Silverton High. He took her to the junior prom.
“Just look at the look on her face,” John said pointing to a picture. “It doesn’t look like she was having a good time.”
After they graduated in 1983, John went to University of Southern California, where he graduated from the School of Film and Television. His resumé includes movies (like The Hunger Games), work with Steven Spielberg, winning an Emmy and execelling in computer animation. After high school, Maggie moved to Salem and started a successful career in finance and real estate, that led to moving to Portland.
A few years ago, John posted on Facebook he would be at Mac’s in Silverton, inviting his high school classmates to join him. Maggie was hesitant.
“I am very shy and he was in town from Hollywood,” Maggie said. “I was done with the dating thing plus he lived in California.”
And she was a little fearful that the boy she had known since first grade would “have become a snotty Hollywood type.” But she went. They chatted. Went to lunch and John returned to Hollywood.
“Our date was very business-like,” John said. “It was more about catching up. I didn’t think she was interested.”
End of story? Not even close.
Sixth months later, John posted on Facebook he was in town for his brother’s 50th birthday. And to his surprise, he received a text from Maggie asking him if he wanted to go out. He made reservations at Silver Grille.
“I had been thinking about him since he left and realized he hadn’t changed at all,” Maggie said. “I was smitten.”
Their love story is one John gleefully tells anyone who will listen. They laugh when it is compared to Harry Met Sally. After going back and forth for a while, Maggie moved to Los Angeles.
“All I know is that I have loved this boy since I was a kid,” Maggie said. “I guess I just didn’t know it until I was an adult.”
Then they decided it was time to return to Silverton. Now they have started two businesses: Grub Courier and Big Foot Robot. They are thrilled to be back, starting their new adventures together.
“When we decided to move back to Silverton to step outside of our comfort zones and create small businesses, it was with the main purpose of ensconcing ourselves in this little town that we both loved while providing services that we thought would benefit the community,” Maggie said. “We both wake up each morning, so happy to be here in Silverton once again, and so happy that the community is embracing our ideas.”
They are planning to marry this summer. And they have other plans: John wants to teach filmmaking classes and organize a film festival.
“I think what we have both learned that it is never too late to find true happiness,” Maggie said. “And every aspect of life, the good and the bad, leads you to where you need to go.”
