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Our Story ~ Part Three Or Why You Should Never Let Boys with Long Hair Take Your Daughters to the Airport

by Toni Herrbach

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Do not read until you have read Part 1 and Part 2….

“Will You Marry Me?”

Are you shocked, because I was… after long-haired hippie spoke those words I rambled on and on about why he would not want to marry me. I mean here is the person who I had really only known for about six weeks asking me to marry him. Oh, and did I mention that the whole reason I was at the airport was to fly to see someone else!!! I can’t remember my exact words, but the words “high maintenance” were spoken many times.

I am not sure how much time passed before they started boarding the plane, but it seemed like forever. Time tends to slow down when someone you hardly know asks you to marry them in an airport. When it was time to board I said good-bye hurried to the gate. I then had two hours to contemplate what in the world had just happened. Did long-haired hippie really just ask me to marry him? Was he serious? Why in the world would he want to marry me?

The plane ride is a blur, except that it was the most turbulent flight I have ever been on. People were praying and crying and I think most people thought the plane would crash. I kept thinking that I was going to be the person that should have gotten off the plane, but didn’t. I mean I did have a good excuse to not board… did I miss my chance to escape death in a plane crash because I didn’t say yes to a marriage proposal from a someone I hardly knew?

Obviously the plane did not crash, because I am writing this 16 years later, but the flight did make me start to question the entire situation. When I landed and saw Pennsylvania boy he made the gigantic mistake of not commenting on the outfit I had worked so hard to pick out… I realize this sounds really petty and shallow, but I was 20… forgive me. PA boy then made the second gigantic mistake of telling me he had a great surprise for me… we were going on a camp out with all of his buddies.

I realize I speak highly of camping on this site, but 16 years ago camping was the last thing in the world I ever wanted to do. I didn’t like dirt, bugs, or not being able to take a shower every day, actually I still don’t like those things, but I have gained tolerance since God gave me three boys. The camping was miserable, and I spent the entire time wondering what on earth was I doing there in PA with someone who thought it would be a good idea to take me, camping.

As soon as I had access to a phone (remember life without cellphones) I called long-haired hippie. The conversation went something like this…

“Remember that thing you asked me in the airport?”

“Yes”

“Did you mean it?”

“Yes”

“Okay, well I’m in.”

Then I hung up the phone. Can you believe how incredibly romantic I am? This conversation continued on a daily basis for the rest of the week that I was in Pennsylvania. Although the subsequent conversations went more like…

“Still good to go?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, talk to you tomorrow.”

Finally the day before I was flying home I came to my senses (okay not really, does anyone actually believe I was operating at any level of sanity here?) I called him and said something like…

“When do you want to do this?”

“I don’t know?”

“Okay, well how about you pick me up from the airport and we can do it then?”

I realize by typing this I have lost all of my readers who think I am an example and want to learn anything from me and my life. I also know that my kids read this blog… so kids, NEVER DO THIS EVER! IF SO YOU WILL BE GROUNDED FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!!!

Part 4 or How to Plan a Frugal Wedding has been published.

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Comments | 39 comments

« Our Story ~ Part Two or Why I Should Have High Tailed it Out of the Apartment Complex
Our Story ~ Part Four or How to Have a Frugal Wedding »

Comments

  1. Terri says

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    This is hysterical! (And, no, I am not going to let my two girls read this post! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Chandra says

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    Just came across your site while looking for lapbooking ideas, love it!

    God bless!

    Chandra

    Reply
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    Reply
  4. photographymom says

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    It seems to run in the military. While not quite as dramatic my husband and I have a similar story. I was a photographer in Germany he was an army soldier just back from his first tour in Iraq. I was taking pictures at their welcome home ball. We were finagled into the same room by mutual friends and well I took his picture then I took his heart then 8 months later we were married. We are still going strong with 6 years under our belts with plans for about 285 more.

    Reply
  5. jen says

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    It is uncanny. My husband and I met at college and eloped 7 weeks later(oct). We didn’t tell family until Christmas. When we got pregnant, he went into the navy. That was 15 1/2 years ago. I guess I’m not the only crazy girl who gets married lickety split.
    I’m really digging the series…

    Reply
  6. Nancy M. says

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    Oh, my goodness!! I am so behind on reading this. I just finished it.

    This is an awesome story! You who likes planning so much, just said yes to someone over the phone. It’s wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing it! You are a great story-teller!

    Reply
  7. momstheword says

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    Oh. My. Word. I would have had a heart attack. My husband asked me to marry him and I thought about it for an entire YEAR (sorry for yelling) before I said yes. You go girl!

    Reply
  8. Carrie @ MoneySavingMethods.com says

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    I need to know the rest of this story. It is like reading a great fiction novel…condensed!

    Reply
  9. Lawanda says

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    I love you Toni!!!!

    This is the best …series… I have ever read!! haha

    Reply
  10. jolyn says

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    YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! THIS IS HYSTERICAL!! I AM TOTALLY FALLING OFF MY CHAIR LAUGHING SO HARD!

    Okay, maybe not the reaction you were looking for. But seriously. This. is. rich.

    Reply
  11. Becca says

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    I laughed so hard. All I was thinking the whole time was “Don’t ask her to speak at standards night.” That, by the way, is a label I now have. Lets just say I met mine in a chat room…7 weeks, one cross country move, and way too many phone calls later we got married. I don’t regret it, but its not something you want to encourage the teenagers with.

    Reply
  12. Heidi @ GGIP says

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    What an incredible story!

    Reply
  13. Sonshine says

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    What fun! Can’t wait to read the rest of the story! 🙂

    I married a Navy guy after saying all my life that I would never marry anyone that was in the military because I didn’t like moving and changing so much. 🙂 God really has a sense of humor! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Sherry says

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    Wow, what a great story! Loved reading all three parts. Definitely sounds like 2 people from different planets coming together. Love the part of “Okay, well I’m in.” LOL! Can’t wait to hear the rest.

    Reply
  15. Luke Holzmann says

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    I’m loving this too. Can’t wait for more [smile].

    Every time I hear these stories it reminds me how crazy it is that any of us ever got married to begin with [smile].

    ~Luke

    Reply
  16. Kathryn says

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    Totally love your story. Our love story was oddball as well. My husband proposed 6 days after we met — we’d never even dated. If that wasn’t strange enough, I knew I honestly “felt” his presence before seeing him and knew I was meant to be with this person the rest of my life. Needless to say, I said, “Yes”.

    BTW, we met when a classmate screened a movie at his place and invited me over. Hubby was also a long-haired student hippie type who owned the house where my classmate lived.

    Hubby wanted us to get married and start having kids right away — did I mention I’d just turned 17?! We did eventually marry, though it took a year long engagement followed by a breakup, me marrying someone 2 years after that who (after 10 years of marriage) decided he didn’t “want to be in a family, anymore”, Hubby taking a job on the French Riviera and declaring he’d never live anywhere else, and me — unwittingly and temporarily — becoming a bigamist.

    Suffice to say, when God intends for two to become one He will see to it they get together regardless of the obstacles we humans put in the way.

    Reply
  17. Mikki says

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    It has been fun reading about how you met your hubby. What a cute cute story. It kind of inspires me to write about mine, though mine’s not as exciting as yours.

    Reply
  18. Mrs. Sprinkles says

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    This is highly entertaining! I cannot WAIT to read the rest!

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  19. Phoebe @ Cents to Get Debt Free says

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    What a great story! Thank you for sharing them. Cracks me up that your response to the proposal was “I’m in.” Haha.

    Totally know what you mean about warning your children, I wouldn’t want them to get married in the fashion that I did, either.

    Can’t wait to read the rest!

    Reply
  20. Amy Walton says

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    I LOVE these installments about your life! My late husband and I dated for six months, broke up, didn’t communicate for a year ad a half, resumed contact and dated two weekends before becoming engaged, married six months later, and had a child nine months and seventeen days after saying “I do.” Whew! We just knew it was right. Your union seems to have flourished quite well!

    Reply
  21. jen says

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    Aaawwww. I’m glad that I haven’t read your site for a few days and hadn’t read part 1 and left hanging for the rest. Just goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its long-haired hippie cover.

    Reply
  22. Maranda says

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    WOW! Your acceptance of his proposal sounds a lot like mine. “So marry me already” he says. “Ok” *shrugs* I say. Couldnt get any more romantic than that. LOL

    Reply
  23. MNKristy says

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    OH MY GOSH!!! I can’t believe this. Are you sure this isn’t some made-for-tv movie that you watched the other night? This is just unbelievable. I can’t wait to read more!

    Reply
  24. Simply Sara says

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    Crazy story 🙂
    Can’t wait to hear the rest!
    We were married quick too…..maybe not quite as quick as you! (we were 8 months after our first date)

    Thanks for sharing your sweet story 🙂

    Reply
  25. Heidi @ Frugal Girls says

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    Yea God ~ what a fun story! He always makes sure our lives are interesting, doesn’t He?? Thanks for sharing your story!

    Reply
  26. Erin says

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    I love the part about how we threaten our children not to do what we’ve done! Superman moved in with me about 10 days after our first date and we were married less than a year after our first date. Since we celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, it worked for us, but I’d think my kids were nuts if they tried it!

    Reply
  27. Stephanie says

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    Isn’t God so good 🙂

    Reply
  28. Joelle says

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    Awwww, that’s so hilarious! But so wonderful! I’m glad it worked so well for you two. 🙂 I’m glad you’re posting these. I feel like I’m getting to know you a little better, lol. My hubby’s and my story is a little bit odd too (I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to everyone), but God works in mysterious ways, ya know?! Can’t wait to see what your frugal wedding ideas were. I should blog about mine while I’m only a year and a half out and can still remember them all… hmm.

    Reply
  29. Upstatemomof3 says

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    Oh my goodness!!! That is so awesome! I love that story. 🙂

    Reply
  30. Pam Collier says

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    *sigh*..I’m so loving this series! Thanks much for sharing. Makes me want to post my own love story but I’m afraid mine’s more mundane–the story not the marriage!

    Reply
  31. Jenny of Sugar Grove says

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    This is so fun to read. I don’t really know you, but I have been told by Julie the haircutter (remember her?) that I remind her of you. As I have read your posts and your perspectives on different things in life, I have to agree that we are a lot alike. Thanks for sharing your story!

    Reply
  32. Christina Taylor says

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    This is romantic, now anyway. Times were differnet then. You were actually friends first, then decided to get married. I love it. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story.

    Reply
  33. LB Moore says

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    Please let us know what happens next! What a great story. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  34. Stephanie says

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    I’m pretty new to your blog but if you write like this all the time….you need to write!!!! I’m going to have to go back and read your blog from the beginning! (When I have time that is)

    Reply
  35. Sandra says

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    Wow – LOL – that’s crazy! 🙂 You totally didn’t seem excited about it?!?

    Looking forward to the next part. 🙂

    Reply
  36. Andrea @ Mommy Snacks says

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    NO WAY!!!!! But, God ordained that union and 16 years later here you are. So, obviously it’s a blessing! But, I would be telling my kids the same thing!!

    Oohh…I can’t wait to hear about the planning and what your parents said…and when he went back in the Navy. Ooh, and baby #1 that eventually leads to this bun in your oven! I’m excited!!!

    Reply
  37. Sandi says

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    This is getting good. Just let us know when you’re done posting for the night so I can go to bed. =)

    Reply
  38. Meredith says

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    Have to admit, you had me running back as soon as you posted your Twitter link!

    There has to be a reason why Black Heels To Tractor Wheels on PW is so successful!

    Reply

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