college – Page 4 – FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

The Princeton Ploy

September 19, 2024September 18, 2024 Posted in cars, college, crush, dating, laundry, marriage, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, pick-up lines, relationships, roommate, travelLeave a comment

(re-run) It was Sue’s third day as a freshman at Temple University in Philadelphia. She was riding the elevator with her friends between Hardwick and Johnson Hall when he got on. He had all of his stuff. He was moving in. “School started already,” one of her friends said. “I was in San Diego,” he… Continue reading The Princeton Ploy

Born to Thrift

August 23, 2024August 22, 2024 Posted in clothing, college, costumes, high school, memoir, thrift storeLeave a comment

(re-run) It was 12th grade, senior year in high school when my partner, Colleen, and I drove across town to find some stuff at the DAV for our English project. Once I saw what a dollar or two could buy at a second-hand store, I was hooked. In college, I needed a Halloween costume. I… Continue reading Born to Thrift

Keep Your Nose Clean

August 19, 2024August 18, 2024 Posted in college, house, housing, law, lawlessness, looters, memoir, middle class, Nebraska, Omaha, renters, rules, societal rules, student, student loans, young adultLeave a comment

(re-run from 2021) When I was a young adult, this expression was a warning to us to straighten up and fly right – to stay out of trouble. It was said to young men more than it was said to young women, but it meant that things would come our way if we followed the… Continue reading Keep Your Nose Clean

Lola Meets Ricardo

August 16, 2024August 15, 2024 Posted in beer, college, fires, Iowa, marriage, military, sister, speech, women's studiesLeave a comment

(re-run) Lola met her forever husband on the first day of college at the University of Iowa. She had signed up for a speech and composition class with an emphasis on women’s studies. When she got to the classroom, there was a note on the door saying that the class had been moved to another… Continue reading Lola Meets Ricardo

Computer Date

August 4, 2024August 3, 2024 Posted in college, computer dating, dating, firsts, getting dumped, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) The idea for computer dating has been around as long as computers for personal use have been. Carolyn should know! In 1965 (yes, in the Dark Ages) she had her first and last computer match. In those days one filled out a computer punch card, the data was computed, and the results took a… Continue reading Computer Date

Say What in Santa Cruz

August 2, 2024August 1, 2024 Posted in California, college, dating, friends, helpful strangers, high school, marriage proposal, relationships, Santa Cruz, siblings, vacationLeave a comment

(re-run) Jennifer met Brad at San Leandro High school in the Bay Area. She wasn’t allowed to date, but she was allowed to go to junior prom. The next year Brad asked Jennifer to Senior Ball. It was in San Francisco, and afterward, they went to Pier 39 with everyone else in their limo. Brad… Continue reading Say What in Santa Cruz

Hitchhiking Story

July 15, 2024July 13, 2024 Posted in book sale, books, car, college, door-to-door salesperson, hitch hiking, memoir, Ohio, Southwestern Company, summerLeave a comment

(re-run) When I was 20, I sold books door to door that summer in Ohio for Southwestern Company. The regional boss told me at our Sunday meeting to spend a day working with one of his ace sellers. The problem was, I didn’t have a car to get to the town where he worked. The… Continue reading Hitchhiking Story

Sideshows are the New Running of the Bulls

July 9, 2024July 8, 2024 Posted in Bay Area, bull, California, college, danger, holidays, magazine, memoir, Oakland, pandemic, passport, Running of the Bulls, San Francisco, San Jose, sideshows, SpainLeave a comment

(re-run) Watching the local news tonight, I saw that it was reported that many cities in the Bay Area had sideshows going on last night. Sideshows are entertainment involving people in cars and trucks spinning doughnuts in the middle of intersections while hundreds of people watch, ride, and take videos of the chaos. It happens… Continue reading Sideshows are the New Running of the Bulls

Don’t Stand Up!

May 25, 2024May 24, 2024 Posted in college, humor, memoir, Peru, relationships, Study abroad, travel, vacationLeave a comment

(re-run) It was a long train ride from Lima to Cuzco, or maybe it was from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. At any rate, I was on a train with a bunch of Peruvians and my roommate, Kristy. Trains give me motion sickness, as do boats, cars, planes, swings, and carnival rides. It’s a miracle that… Continue reading Don’t Stand Up!

Worst Weekend Getaway Ever

May 23, 2024May 21, 2024 Posted in college, firsts, humor, memoir, relationships, roommate, VenezuelaLeave a comment

(re-run) While student teaching in Venezuela, I learned how to have fun with not much money. One of the American teachers had stolen a couple of striped beach towels from an upscale hotel, and she had been sneaking into the hotel pool for years. “Just carry the towel and act like you belong,” Linda said.… Continue reading Worst Weekend Getaway Ever