Take friends' advice

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Oct 31, 2004 by Capital-Journal

Not every guy would take the advice of a former girlfriend.

But Howard Hobrock asked Laura Farley out after a girl he had dated moved to California and suggested that he call Laura.

It was a good suggestion. Howard and Laura are now celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Howard proposed to Laura in Gage Park and slipped a ring on her finger after she said, "Yes."

Their wedding was on Nov. 7, 1954. The couple recall that after their wedding, while driving to Kansas City, Laura discovered that she was wearing the skirt of her two-piece double knit suit wrong side out. Her matron of honor had helped her get dressed.

A few weeks later, they were subjected to a shivaree. The Hobrocks write that among other things, the pranksters removed all the labels from their cans of food. However, Laura had bought food in different sized cans, so she knew what was inside each one.

Even though Ellen Shumate and Duane Dennison were dating other people, they seemed to keep bumping into each other at the same places on weekends.

They got acquainted and found each other intriguing, Ellen writes. They began dating. On Ellen's 18th birthday, Duane proposed and gave her an engagement ring.

They have now been married 25 years.

At their wedding on Nov. 3, 1979, Ellen recalls putting Duane's wedding ring on the wrong hand. And she'll never forget the terrible odor of Limburger cheese that was melting on their radiator after they drove away.

You never know where or how you might meet the man of your dreams.

Jolynn Rycken got a call from her best friend urging her to come to a housewarming party, where there was "this guy she wanted me to meet," Jolynn writes. It was June 6, 1998.

Jolynn went and was introduced to him, but her reaction was, "Sure, he was a funny guy, but I was very much not interested. I kept thinking to myself, 'What was she thinking?!'

"And then it happened. I saw my 6-foot-8-inch dream man walk out onto the front lawn." She asked to be introduced to him.

George Henry "Hank" Desch, had just graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Jolynn has always been fascinated with the Air Force.

"I asked Hank, 'So, you graduated from the A.F. Academy?' When he said yes, I replied: 'Wow! Can I shake your hand?' He looked at me inquisitively, but extended his hand. Afterwards, I childishly asked if I could hug him, too, and though perplexed by my forward nature, he opened his arms. When I hugged him, I exclaimed, 'He's buff, too!' As the words came out of my mouth, I knew they would embarrass me for years to come."

They spent the evening talking and laughing.

On Nov. 7, 2003, returning from a business trip, she bought Hank a card and a bouquet. At his apartment, she opened the door and heard jazz music. Lighted candles, chocolates and a dozen roses were on the kitchen table. Where Hank wrote his "to do" lists, he had written: "Propose to Jo."

"I did a triple-take," she said, "and couldn't believe my eyes." Then Hank entered, wearing a suit and tie and a big grin. She held out the roses she'd brought him. "He smiled and thanked me, and then dropped to his knee," she said.

"Jolynn, will you be my wife?" he asked. He slipped a ring on her finger. The diamond it held was from the engagement ring worn by her mother for 30 years before she lost her battle with cancer the previous year.

Nancy Tompkins can be reached at (785) 295-1297 or at nancy.tompkins@cjonline.com.