I’m going to do a little reminiscing, said reminiscing being prompted by: 1. the warm, sunny days we’re having, which make me nostalgic for other warm and sunny times in my life, and 2. The California crash involving a Fed Ex truck and a tour bus full of prospective college students on its way to Humboldt State University. Ten people died in that crash and its blazing inferno .
 |
| Students who died on way to HSU won't be able to make college friendships. |
Those young people were enroute to HSU to become dorm buddies, roomies, best friends. But now they won’t be. That’s sad. I attended HSU in 1963 and 1964 before I dropped out, got a job and got married to avoid the draft to Vietnam. And I made three great friends at HSU.
My roommate Paul was one friend. He was from Walnut Creek and his father was a lawyer. A guy named Chip was another friend. He was from Walnut Creek also and his father was an executive at a chemical company (I think they made explosives). Then there was Jimmy, the guy who was best man at my wedding - but I don’t remember where he came from. Unfortunately, Jimmy died in a traffic accident shortly after my wedding. And, sad to say, I’ve lost track of Paul and Chip over the years. I wish I hadn’t, but I never valued friendships then like I do now.
Anyway, us four guys had great times together especially on sunny days. One sunny day we were on a picnic beside a clear, cold stream that fed the Eel River and Paul complained he was too warm. Someone, probably me, said, “Stick your head in the water and cool off.” Crazy Paul did just that, and for man y years I possessed a picture of him lying on the creek bank with his head in the water. He was an impetuous young man, always walking up to girls he’d never met and asking them to go out on a date. He met his wife that way.
A memory that stands out with Chip was the sunny day his dad took Chip and I skeet shooting. Now, I knew my way around a shotgun, in fact I owned one, but I had never gone skeet shooting. Chip’s father was so-o-o impressed that I hit the first three clay pigeons in a row. Then I missed all the rest of them. I don’t think Chip’s dad was too impressed with my golf game either. But the man paid for my game at his country club and that sure impressed me.
Jimmy was as handsome as could be, but not very confident with girls. He and my sister dated for awhile and he often would ask me how to get along with her, to which I would reply, “That’s impossible.”
I remember another time we asked some girls to go on a picnic and did a great job of planning and provisioning, except we forgot to bring silverware or cutlery. Ever try to spread mustard on a hot dog bun with a tire iron? Or cut chocolate cake? But hey, we had fun.
I became president of The Reckless Driving Club one sunny day when the four of us guys were returning to HSU from Walnut Creek. I became president by scaring the living beejesus out of my buddies. By the time I got through passing cars on blind curves in uphill graveled construction zones those guys were on the floor in the back begging me to be their president. Eat your heart out Mitt Romney. Shoot! I wasn’t even drunk. Of course every time I consider how stupid I was then I consider having a couple of drinks.
It’s been fun reminiscing, but I’ll sign off now (Sam’s making grateful eyes). I had a great time during my short stay at HSU and I wish those students who were killed had been able to do that too. What a shame. Tragedies are just too final. Good memories are way better.
My roommate Paul was one friend. He was from Walnut Creek and his father was a lawyer. A guy named Chip was another friend. He was from Walnut Creek also and his father was an executive at a chemical company (I think they made explosives). Then there was Jimmy, the guy who was best man at my wedding - but I don’t remember where he came from. Unfortunately, Jimmy died in a traffic accident shortly after my wedding. And, sad to say, I’ve lost track of Paul and Chip over the years. I wish I hadn’t, but I never valued friendships then like I do now.
Anyway, us four guys had great times together especially on sunny days. One sunny day we were on a picnic beside a clear, cold stream that fed the Eel River and Paul complained he was too warm. Someone, probably me, said, “Stick your head in the water and cool off.” Crazy Paul did just that, and for man y years I possessed a picture of him lying on the creek bank with his head in the water. He was an impetuous young man, always walking up to girls he’d never met and asking them to go out on a date. He met his wife that way.
A memory that stands out with Chip was the sunny day his dad took Chip and I skeet shooting. Now, I knew my way around a shotgun, in fact I owned one, but I had never gone skeet shooting. Chip’s father was so-o-o impressed that I hit the first three clay pigeons in a row. Then I missed all the rest of them. I don’t think Chip’s dad was too impressed with my golf game either. But the man paid for my game at his country club and that sure impressed me.
Jimmy was as handsome as could be, but not very confident with girls. He and my sister dated for awhile and he often would ask me how to get along with her, to which I would reply, “That’s impossible.”
I remember another time we asked some girls to go on a picnic and did a great job of planning and provisioning, except we forgot to bring silverware or cutlery. Ever try to spread mustard on a hot dog bun with a tire iron? Or cut chocolate cake? But hey, we had fun.
I became president of The Reckless Driving Club one sunny day when the four of us guys were returning to HSU from Walnut Creek. I became president by scaring the living beejesus out of my buddies. By the time I got through passing cars on blind curves in uphill graveled construction zones those guys were on the floor in the back begging me to be their president. Eat your heart out Mitt Romney. Shoot! I wasn’t even drunk. Of course every time I consider how stupid I was then I consider having a couple of drinks.
It’s been fun reminiscing, but I’ll sign off now (Sam’s making grateful eyes). I had a great time during my short stay at HSU and I wish those students who were killed had been able to do that too. What a shame. Tragedies are just too final. Good memories are way better.
No comments:
Post a Comment