Memoir Monday, Nov 25, 1966

 A longer time at "home" with the Thanksgiving Holiday. Oh-kay. Let's unpack that. 

Nov 25, 1966

Friday,.Alex woke me at 7:00 and I dragged out about 8:00. We ate, watered and changed tires all around on the pickup and found a loose bearing in the left front which, when corrected,, greatly reduced the shimmy. We had our signatures motorized and The Boss was off with them in hand for his latest legal shenanigan .I spent two hours cleaning, removed the loathed old crib etc. Then after lunch I put in two hours cleaning corrals. That's plenty. Listened to the tales of the day's progress and did some sewing. I've got the pretty purple dress fixed and a blouse plus one for Mom. The house looks different but it is still dirty. And I am really beat. No work on Cindy tonight, I got a start on it, anyway. Let's call 10:20 bedtime, OK? 

I am sure Alex was too big for the old baby bed and I think was now on the cot as Charlie Mike had my old bed  (an Army cot prior to that) so why it was not removed long ago I have no idea. Just no one could bother!  So eldest daughter goes to work. The purple dress was jersey, fitted bodice and flared skirt and I really liked it, another Goodwill purchase. I thought it was flattering and a good date dress.  So to slide back to the prior weekend and the days before the holiday break began.

Nov 19-20 I did not get up early on Saturday but Charlie Mike and I rode. Chief was a bit high--he had not been getting enough exercise but I got him controlled and lead several others and also later rode Leo. Found our friend Earl was still not back at work. That evening Jim M came by for me I said I was surprised how at ease I felt. The letters we'd exchanged had helped there--shifting from teacher-pupil to two friendly near equals. I helped some of the actors put on make up and Jim was only slightly defiant in escorting me while the cast had a post show party. We went down to the teachers' lounge for a bit of peace and quiet where he smoked half a pack and then I got a 'guided tour' around main complex. Some still familiar and some where I had never been before. Afterward we went to the steak house for a burger and ran into more of the kids. They were not sure what to think I bet. 

Woke up Sunday with an awful headache--and I had not had any booze!The Boss was rather glum but my ride came promptly at 9:00 and I was off, leaving my comb and brush on the dresser,  DTBL.  Jim claimed he'd rather listen than talk which I found hard to believe but his private persona is different than his teacher one. We had brunch at the Lumberjack and he then took me back to the dorm and carried my suitcase to the door, promising to come by the house over the holiday unless he went to his parents'.

Back to school routine on Monday, Nov 21,  Classes were all out early and Carol and I had dinner and went to a free movie at the Student Union. Tuesday the weather was getting cold and windy so followed the normal routine and then Carol and I loaded into her car --a 1966 Mustang, I think new--and drove down; 89A. She was going home to Prescott and dropped me off at 409 Main  as we'd planned. I loafed the afternoon away and helped Charlie Mike with the chores. I slept that night in my old bed with Alex. 

I slept a bit late the next day but watered after Charlie Mike and Alex left for school and Mom for work. Then it was Thanksgiving Day with not a lot of  celebration as usual in our family. Charlie Mike and I did ride and I showed him how to handle Lyno when she was excited and frisky. We did have chicken, 'taters, and gravy etc. at least. And then it was Friday,  as covered above. I had already firmly planned  to go back as early on Sunday as I could, maybe on the midday bus since I had an important accounting test on Monday I was not going to miss. There were still a couple of days of the holiday to go, though  In some ways these breaks were good but I was mostly on pins and needles lest some catastrophe suddenly occur. I did enjoy the chances to ride and be outdoors because that helped me make the transition between two greatly different life styles.Within another year that was almost totally completed. 

A few pictures not totally irrelevant! MUHS--same stage, different year. This was in 1961 or 62 but already Jim M was directing the Mingus Drams efforts. I cannot recall what play this was but I was there and snapped this photo! Of course that venue was still used in 1966. Next me on Chief. He was a good looking horse and mostly fun to ride as a stallion just has a bit more power and oomph than a mare or gelding does. Then Charlie Mike and I riding, one of my weekends or holidays back, following the old Outfit Track on the north side of Bitter Creek. And last, the Lumberjack Band struts their stuff at a football game, long \before the big domed stadium came to be.