STAYING INVOLVED chapter 84

I returned for my senior year in the fall 0f 1965. I never considered transferring to another school. I knew some changes were coming. I was excited. Mr. and Mrs. Rose came on staff as the new dean of students/men and dean of women. I thought it was perfect.

Della remained in Red Deer and continued to work for Alberta Governments Telephones. She had one semester to complete to graduate but it wasn’t until the third semester. She decided she would wait until then to make a decision about returning.

I had some trepidation about returning. I expected some residual emotions to linger and some hostility to be directed my way. There was some, but it was minor. I was once again roomed on the third floor. This time I roomed directly across from the restroom. Larry was my roommate. He was a tall redhead from Spokane, Washington. By third semester my depression was beginning to overwhelm me and I asked for a room alone. One became available and Mr. Rose let me have it. It was still on third floor and at the end of the hall. There was no traffic past my room.

I still loved the year, but missed Della terribly. Her job provided fringe benefits that few had. When she worked a late night shift she was the only operator on duty. I could call directory assistance and she would answer. We had a great number of conversations after most were in bed.

That was a problem at times. I was killing the clock at both ends. My gratis (the job I did for the school) was as morning watchman. That meant I got up at 5:30 am, went around and unlocked the building and turned the heat up. It was always dark when I began my rounds. One morning I was leaving the boys dorm and just stepping from the building into the covered airlock, when my flashlight caught the feet of someone hiding in the entrance. I almost went through the roof. Mike, a freshman student, had left the dorm to go to the administration building to type and found himself locked out. He was waiting for someone to come by who could let him in.

I was involved in the South American Prayer Band and helped produce a Friday night Mission Meeting for our group. I wrote my first full-length play entitled “Columbia in Revolt.” The story was a debate between rebels, missionaries and news people on the conflicts in South America. I was set in a TV station. Part of our task was to include everyone in the pray band in the program. We did that just fine. A partial set and props were built. Props we gathered, costumes put together and actors were needed. I loved stretching my wings beyond a skit.

I was also very involved in Youth Conference and clearly did a skit or two. I may have done some with Dave. I’m not sure. I found this photo in the yearbook of me in a classic pose from a skit Franklin and I would have done when I was a freshman. It had to be a three stooges style skit. You can tell by the paper and plastic on the wall. I guess I must have liked cleaning up messes. It seems I did several skits that produced the mess.

The nurses also lead a Missions Meeting and I made a poster for them. I had read an article about folding paper to create designs and tried it for this project. It was very unique and very time consuming. It is the only one of its kind I ever did.

There was a sales competition between classes and Jean (Anna) and I were team leaders for the senior class. I thing we were selling yearbooks. Don’t hold me to it. Our slogan was “I’m a spy for the SSI.” For the life of me I cannot remember what SSI stood for. Our group name was “Oldtimers.” The photo was of my interrogation of Jean while Bill is the judge in the background. I’m realty letting her have it, but don’t remember why? I was hoping Jean would be my memory here, but haven’t been able to reach her. If anyone remembers what this event was all about, please comment.

I had to include the snowman for my none Canadian readers anything built with snow is rare in Regina. The snow was too  dry and flakey. It just didn't stick together, therefore very few snowball fights. Looks like Harold and Eric working away on the snowman.