Still in love after all these years

Angelique Flores

It was 1932 when Diane and Harold Schechter first met. They were in high

school in New York City. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was just elected

president. World War II was still years away.

They were young and not exactly in love -- not at first anyway.

“We couldn’t stand each other,” Diane said.

Now 83, the couple -- who now live in Huntington Beach -- is looking

forward to celebrating 62 years of marriage in March.Their affection grew

over time.

In college, the two would see each other on the train each morning. At

the time, Harold thought Diane was “a big mouth ... and pushy.” Diane

thought Harold was “naive ... a mama’s baby boy.”

But they were linked together by their best friends, who started dating

and talked Diane into going out with Harold so they could all use

Harold’s dad’s car.

“Our friends figured we’d grow on each other,” Diane said.

Their friends were right.

But it took awhile for Diane to realize it.

It wasn’t until after Diane asked for a break from Harold that it hit

her. She dated other guys and didn’t think twice about Harold’s absence

until he paid her a visit three weeks into the hiatus.

“After I saw him, I missed him,” she said.

The rest is history.

So what’s their secret to making that love last?

“He says he’s never wrong, and I say he’s never right,” Diane said when

asked about the key to her marital success.

As for Harold, well he has his own theory.

“I say I’m the lord and master of my house, and she could do whatever she

likes,” he said.

Mostly, though, the couple said it’s important to sort out the

differences. On that, they both agree.

“You fight, but you have to make up,” Diane said. “And never go to sleep

mad.”

But they don’t agree on everything, proving that opposites do attract.

“I see the glass half empty, he sees it half full,” Diane said.

His patience makes up for her lack of it. For every outburst she has, he

shrugs his shoulders.

“We have different aspects, but it blends after 10 or 15 years,” she

said.

During their first 10 years together, the couple had their share of ups

and downs. After graduating from college, earning Phi Beta Kappa in his

junior year, Harold’s pursuit to enter medical school was halted because

of the school’s discrimination against Jews. So he went to work as a

shipping clerk.

After Pearl Harbor was bombed during World War II, Harold enlisted in the

Air Force to serve his country. Their first child was only 3 weeks old

when Harold reported for service. He spent three years in Africa and

Turkey, before returning home.

“It was hard during the war,” Harold said.

To calm their nerves during the separation, they each took up smoking.

After Harold’s return, they both quit.

Together they raised a son and two daughters while Harold worked as an

insurance man and then as a contractor. After retiring, they moved to

California in 1980.

Through the years, Harold has written poetry to express his affection

toward Diane. One he wrote for her 70th birthday hangs framed in their

home.

Though they didn’t like each other much at first, there’s no question

about how much they love each other now.

“He’s the world’s best storyteller,” Diane said. “He’s always in good

spirits.”

“She’s always dependable, real solid,” Harold said. “She has tremendous

insight.”

They celebrated their 50th and 60th anniversaries with a bang. This year,

however, they are planning a modest celebration.

“I don’t plan too far ahead. It’s like tempting fate,” she said. “When

you get to our age, you’re just happy to get up in the morning and say,

‘Hey, God gave me another day.”’

And the couple is as sharp as ever.

Diane keeps busy playing the card games mah-jongg and pan and knitting.

Harold is the president of the Huntington Beach Council on Aging.

So how will the Schechters be spending the first Valentine’s Day of the

millennium?”We’re going to chaperon the dance at the senior center,”

Diane said.

Meanwhile, Diane will continue to pick out Harold’s clothes, and he’ll

continue to follow her advice.

“She has exquisite taste,” Harold said.

“Sure, I picked you,” Diane quipped.