My dad asked Anne, years later, “Why did you marry him? He was just a bum!” Thanks, Dad.
Here’s the bum, summering in Mazatlan, Mexico, during ripening years.
Where we left off last time, I was living at a hang-out called “109.” Without a driver’s license I was limited. I finally got a job in “graphics,” but was very low level and going nowhere. At the suggestion of a coworker, I filled out an application for a temporary workforce at Lockheed Aircraft in Georgia, and then forgot all about it.
During this time Anne and I were spending as much time together as possible. Still, the word “marriage” was never used.
Then, suddenly, on a week’s notice, everything changed . . .
The only photo taken at the wedding.
Here are a couple of spreads from the book, with the story given there reproduced below. (Click photos to enlarge.)
Though it was hardly a society wedding, by Anne’s family connections it was featured in The Palos Verdes Social Review (shown small).
From the book . . .
The phone kept ringing at the house but I wasn’t answering, figuring it was for someone else anyway. Then I got a telegram. It was from the company I’d applied to; they’d been trying to reach me for some time.
What? Somebody wanted me? To be a technical illustrator? For lots of money? In Georgia? In two weeks!!!?
It all sounded great . . . the work, the title, the money, and maybe most, the possibility of getting my driver’s license back.
But what about Anne?
By this time we were serious, had long been best friends, and though this might be a “short-term” job, it was time to do something permanent about us.
I remember well, a few days later, our walking down to the delicatessen together for my Saturday night meal, talking about what all this would mean for us. At one point I just said, “Do you want to get married?” To that she answered with the three little words that meant everything: “I guess so.”
We made plans. My new job would start in a ten days. We’d move and get married in Georgia.
The next day we showed up at my parents’ for the noon meal, after they’d returned from church, and I announced our plans. It was a mega surprise to everyone.
Happily (and not surprisingly) everybody liked Anne. Mom and Dad, when they heard the plan, approved . . . except one part. The wedding should be here, not Georgia.
“But we’re leaving on Friday,” I protested, to which Mom responded, “You can get married Thursday.”
“But there’s too much to do. We’re moving.”
Again, Mom was not deterred. “I’ll plan it all,” she said, “All you have to do is come.”
“You’ll iron a shirt for me?”
“I’ll have it there.”
This was sounding like a pretty good offer so I said, “Okay . . . a nice small wedding at the house.”
But, no, Mom would never agree to that. It would have to be at the church.
Ouch. Though it was the church I grew up in, I had parted from its company some years earlier. But for my family, the church was the hub of their lives, where their friends were, and all things that meant the most. So finally I agreed and Mom started making plans. (She was always good at that.)
Next we went to see Anne’s parents. I must say they were very cordial, but the general enthusiasm we’d just experienced was understandably lacking.
Keep in mind that Anne had been privileged with a private school education, had come out as a debutante and, by her congenial personality and character, had generally held a place of particular promise in the eyes of her parents.
Who was I?
(At this part of the story, when I’d tell it in my children’s hearing, I would say, “Never do this to me.”)
Our meeting was short. They had an appointment. I do remember one question Anne’s mother asked me, “How much money do you have?”
I was proud to be able to answer this one well. I told her I had eight-hundred dollars! It was the first time I could say that.
I don’t think she was quite as impressed as I was.
Just one more photo. While my mother ironed a shirt for me, Anne’s mother bought her a dress (without her). We’ve wondered what happened to that dress; we never saw it again.
I remember nothing about the wedding, nor does Anne. It was the first time my parents and Anne’s met. Though living just a mile apart, they occupied different worlds. Still, it was a happy union.
Shown here are about half the photos ever taken. It all happened so fast, nobody thought about getting a photographer. (That’s funny, with our having three fine wedding photographers among our daughters.)
Fortunately Anne had never desired a big wedding, so all this was fine with her. A year or so later my mother mentioned a friend of hers who had provided Anne with her veil, to which Anne questioned, “Did I have a veil?”
Anne’s family hosted the reception at their home. I do remember the gracious comments by various friends of Anne’s family. So many of them would come up to me and say what a wonderful girl I’d married, with so many qualities they’d seen in her growing up, and how fortunate I was. Of course, I agreed.
I was to learn later that to her they were saying, “Well, good luck.”
The next morning we left for Georgia.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Fifty years worth.
.
Our Lives Together, Available Now
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4:59 am
This is so beautifully written! I love that God takes two people and weaves their lives together to make such a beautiful masterpiece. I love that you wrote the story for all to see and be encouraged and inspired by I am going to order a book today!
Happy Anniversary !!!
Marylou and Gene Habecker
6:40 am
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU BOTH!
7:12 am
Congratulations Hyatt & Anne!! It’s been such a pleasure to know you both and share in your life history…even if from afar. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together in HB under your wonderful leadership. God Bless You!!
7:32 am
Congratulations! Gods blessings on all the years you have ahead. I know you treasure the gift He gave you in each other.
7:46 am
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HYATT AND ANNE! We are happy that we are family with you.
7:47 am
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ANNE AND YOU.
7:50 am
OHHHH, I always love your love story! You two are just so precious!! God blessed you Hyatt and Anne I know you feel soooo blessed too!!! Funny, Kevin and I look back over our 40 year journey together and we just see how God had it all planned out! Not always easy, in fact very tough at times, but He is there with us, growing our faith hearts, working everything together for good, and blessing us so richly especially in the things not of this world, like our children and grand children, and our love for each other that continues to grow and mature. Much love! Congratulations in living your great lives together –so richly, so lovingly, and so faithfully with preserverence and character, trusting in the Lord no matter what! Love love Lisa
8:04 am
Hi Hyatt and Anne. I love the part about how you proposed and Anne’s response. So authentic and different from our culture where the proposal means so much yet without what you seemingly shared.
8:08 am
Congrats!Thank you so much for sharing this part of your life’s journey. May you both be blessed with may more years of a happiness!
8:44 am
Happy Anniversary! Beautiful story!
9:21 am
Wonderful story! Love the proposal part! So different than today’s mega productions!
There is something to be said about being with your soul mate longer on this earth then you have been on your own. Best wishes and congratulations on your life together.
May more blessing abound!!
9:24 am
Fantastic story…and I love these old pictures. Look how far you have come! That 800 dollars served you well, Dad.
9:24 am
Love this story………
Wishing you a very happy 50th anniversary and many more years of happiness.
9:30 am
What a wonderful story, written in a loving way.
You are deserving of each other.
I wish you many more years of love and creative friendship.
Jacqueline Jacobs.
9:54 am
Happy anniversary to both.
10:07 am
Happy anniversary to one of our favorite couples of all time! Thank you for being real with us, ministering in our lives, and making us fall in love with your family!
10:10 am
So very wonderful! Brings back many memories of our spontaneous wedding! Blessings to you both on this “50th Anniversary”!!! love and more love, kat
10:24 am
Oh, the bliss of the young and naïve! Love this story, you two, the cutest of all couples at 50 years. Here’s to a Happy, Happy Anniversary!
11:10 am
I’m so glad our paths crossed over the years. Looking forward to celebrating 100 years between us.
Tom & Grace
11:22 am
Congratulations to both of you. Hope we make it ’til fifty. Happy Anniversary to our favorite artists. Gail and Richard Barager
12:43 pm
One of my favorite things to hear is when people tell me the high numbers of year the been married.
You both are wonderful people. Very blessed to know you both. Congratulations.
1:14 pm
Happy Anniversary to both of you! May God continue to bless you and use your talents to bring Him glory!
1:15 pm
Congratulations, dear ones! What a beautiful life you two shot out of the cannon back then.
1:24 pm
What a wonderful book of photos and story! We love your books and will surely order this one. Chapter 2….and then they bummed a ride to Guatemala, gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl, made a print shop hum…and on and on….Love you guys!
JUDY, THANKS. BUT THAT WOULD BE BOOK TWO (NOT WRITTEN) AND PART OF THE SECOND CAREER (OF THREE TO DATE). –HYATT
1:25 pm
Oh yes, A very happy 50th!!! CELEBRATE, and enjoy many more.
1:37 pm
Enjoyed reading your story – two very different backgrounds but then coming together. And now 50 years. Congratulations to you both and enjoy your family celebration! Bud & I hope to celebrate our 50th in Norway this summer with all 14 of us present!.
2:10 pm
“Still crazy after all these years, OHHHHH still crazy after all these years!”
2:29 pm
Happy Golden Anniversary! Yours is a captivating story, and continues to be so!!
4:39 pm
Hyatt and Anne,
This is a wonderful day for both of you. Congratulations to you both and we have heard about your wedding and how fast Betty can put a wedding together. Your Mom and Dad were wonderful and they have 5 children who can praise the Lord today for their Christians Home they were raised in. I thought all their kids were perfect until I told your Mom that all of her children were serving the Lord but she quickly informed me what a time she had with you. We still have the DVD of your Damascus Road episode. You are making your parents proud and the rest of the family as well.
Happy Anniversary to you both and live long and honor the God that you were raised to worship.
Love and Hugs,
Becky and Bill Jones
5:15 pm
Brought back memories of my own youth and how I married a So. Cal. “surfer dude.” He drove a Chevy panel truck, always stuffed with boards and sand! Although he did have a good job as a design engineer. :) I was barely 16 and he was 17 when we met. My Dad wasn’t too sure of Cliff, but he grew to love him dearly. We are going on 52 years together…3 kids, 10 grandkids and 2 great grandkids…and still young enough to enjoy them all! Life is awesome and God is good!
CONGRATULATIONS to you both. :)
Susan Morrison
6:18 pm
Congratulations to you and Anne for 50 years of marriage!
Blessings to you both,
Lynn
7:09 pm
“I guess so.”
So far, so good!
We praise the Lord for His work through you.
8:30 pm
That is so cute
9:44 pm
I’m so happy for the two of you!!! 50 years, in this day and age, is such an accomplishment. May God continue to bless you!!!
2:30 am
CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!!! What privilege to know you for such a small slice of the 50 – we love you both!
Tim and Kristan
5:48 am
How I love the ironic quality of your story which almost sounds fictional but I know it isn’t – You have been an inspirational couple in our lives and to countless others. The black and white photos tell their own story.
Enjoy your fiftieth
John and Sylvia Nowlan
11:59 am
Wow. What a great story! Happy anniversary to you both!
12:17 pm
Happy Anniversary from Ed & Me……50 years! You carve words so well……feel like we’re there with you in all your years. Only one problem: We always think of you as “kids.” One of the first stories we heard from your folks was “the wedding!.” Then, meeting you a year after hearing the story became such a treat! We celebrate 60 next June…..so why did we think we were “older” and you were “kids?” Must be that we were married when we were five years old…..or was it ten? HAVE A WONDERFULLY GOLDEN YEAR!
12:30 pm
Happy 50th Hyatt and Anne! Yours is a unique and inspiring story. It is a clear example of God’s love, grace and power (and sense of humor). You two are an inspiration to many, including us. May God continue to lead, direct and bless you both as you faithfully serve Him.
In His love,
Dave and Linda
6:46 pm
Happy Anniversary Anne & Hyatt. <3 Love your story-telling! LIKE the wedding photos you share. CONGRATULATIONS on 5-0 years together!
5:54 am
I remember that Anne was the best of any of the girls you brought home.
11:21 pm
What a story! The encouraging part is that if my children did this to me someday, I have your story to hang on to and push myself to see beyond the immediate onto the hope in a God who develops history in his ways and timing. Happy Anniversary to both you and Anne. You have a most interesting life story to tell.
12:46 pm
[…] early years as a couple, my dad has a couple of romantic posts on his own blogs: Blank Slate and Blank Canvas. He’s collected a lot of fantastic old photos from their lives before children, many moments […]
2:55 pm
Congratulations, y’all! I am so honored to know you. Your story is a delightful amazement from start to finish!
(And please comment back and tell us your secrets for looking so “fresh” after all these years!)