A Valentine's Day Tribute to:
Love
It can begin with
Janet & Mike Thompson
a kiss, the color of
Leonette & Tony Stafford
someone’s eyes, a
smile, or a laugh,
but how does love
withstand the test
of time? Four local
couples share their
secrets to a successful
marriage.
Mike & Debbi Sanchez
Gregg & Chris Giusiana
Written By Kimberly Ewertz
The Thompson's
An invitation to a play led Janet and
Mike Thompson, both 65, down the
matrimonial aisle. In November 1979
after attending a play wi th friends, Janet
met Mike, one of the performers.
“When I met him backstage I noticed
how tall he was and how pretty his eyes
were, his pretty blue eyes,” Janet said.
Three days later the couple went on
their first date.
“He came over, I poured a glass of
wine, and we started talking and we
never went out. He never left. It was just
amazing, we just hit it off,” Janet said.
Two weeks later, they were engaged.
“We had both kind of been around
the block by the time we were 26, so we
knew what was out there,” Mike said.
“People say you have to work at
your marriage and we always have to
apologize because we didn’t really ever
have to work at our marriage,” Mike said.
86
The couple has two children, Aaron,
36, and Megan, 34, who works with
Mike in San Jose. They also have four
grandchildren.
In their early years, Janet worked
at a deli while raising the children.
Deciding that she wanted to do more,
she expressed an interest in taking a para
legal class. Mike suggested she go to law
school instead.
“I’ll be 39 by the time I get finished,”
Janet told her husband.
Mike’s reasoning was hard to argue
with. “Well you’re going to be 39 any-
way, be 39 and a lawyer.”
Janet did just that and enjoyed
a successful career as a family law
attorney. She is now retired. Mike, how-
ever, has no intention of retiring. He
enjoys his work as a forensic accountant
and he especially enjoys working with
his daughter.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
The couple moved from San Jose to
their home in San Martin in 2002. Mike
was initially hesitant to move due to the
work commute.
“Ironically the commute is the best
part. I look forward to it because I live
with my wife, and I work with my
daughter, so the only time that I’m ever
by myself is sitting in the car,” Mike said.
The couple spends most of their
down time at home but they do enjoy
traveling.
“I especially like it because then I get
him all to myself,” Janet said.
“She’d like to get off one airplane and
get onto the next,” Mike added.
Another shared enjoyment is music.
“She plays music and I stand behind
her,” Mike said adding, that it was due
to Janet’s urging that he took up the bass
guitar.
“Turns out I really like it. The bass is
gmhtoday.com