manual-1975-how-i-got-to-ricks-pages-2-4.txt

Date: undated (likely 1975, pre-mission / Ricks period)

[Page 2] Who am I? Am I a "nut" or just a crazy guy doing his own thing. My life has been thru alot of ugly and beautiful experiences. Mostly every experience relates to the question of; "Who am I?" Which gives me a feeling of insecurity and doubt of what I'm really going to become. I've tried every- thing you could [imagine?], but the spiritual ones I never forget. I'll try to attempt to relate this question in one of my experiences.

It was on a beautiful morning in the second week in August. The day was like any average day, which I'd go to work and then come home. As the day went on my boss broke his paint line. Paint flew all over the walls and even hit the ceiling. Me and this return missionary got the privilege to clean it up. We never got along too good (he always talked about the church and I wasn't too good of a Mormon.) While we were scrubbing the walls he started talking about a place called "Ricks College." This time I felt he was talking on my level. So I started re- sponding to him. I think I was [really?] interested in this so- called place. So I ask him if he would take me up there and get me in. He said "Sure."

The time finally came. I was in bed at the time he called. I got out of bed and answered the phone. You could never guess who it was; yes, it was that returned missionary. I told him to pick me up in a hour. After I hung up, I thought of who I was and why he was doing all this for me? I decided to try my best to get in this place called "Ricks." So I went and cut my hair. When I got back, that

[Page 3] missionary was talking to my mom. When I came in the door my mom almost fainted. I guess my hair gave her a pretty big shock. I kissed my mom good-bye and we were off to Ricks. My thoughts in my head were driving me crazy. "What is it really like."

When we arrived in a place called "Rexburg." He said, "This is the place." It was never the place I had pictured on the way up there. We went to this teacher's office. It was that missionary's friend. We talked and talked about a thing called "the expedition." I was really interested in going to Yellowstone National Forest and the Grand Canyon for eight weeks. So I signed up. Next, we went to the admissions office. They told me if I filled out [the paperwork?], that I'd have a pretty good chance getting in. After all this we went directly home.

When arrived home I told my mom everything. She was happy for me. I still felt that I wouldn't get in. In those four days I was home, I ran around getting [those?] papers signed. I got all of them signed except my medical card and my A.C.T. form. I thought I would never get in, but I still went. I can still remember the night. It was dark and very misty. I said my good-byes like I wasn't really going. As I drove away I had a feeling that maybe I would be back for awhile. All the way up there I was thinking I'd never get in. After about fourteen hours of driving I fell asleep, but at the wrong time. I woke up jumping back and forth in my truck. As I looked up I was headed straight for a fifteen foot sign. I

[Page 4] move out of the way just in time to miss it. After that experience I stop[ped] beside the road and took a nap. In a couple of hours I was up [driving?] again. Thinking that maybe some one up there told me to open my eyes. When I arrived at Ricks College, I was two hours late for class. This expedition thing I was in started one week before actual classes started. After class, my teacher took me out and registered me in [fifteen?] min. I could [have] spent two hours in registration, but he offered to help me.

So now I sit here in the Ricks College library thinking about; Who am I to have such a privilege to be a Ricks College student? The re- turned missionary put himself second. He could of said, "Go up there yourself." The teacher went out of his way to get me registered. What for? The reasons for all this is that everybody is a child of God, Brothers and sisters you would call them. So when that question comes up again, I can honestly say; "I am a child of God"

Who am I? I am a nut be- cause I like to do my own thing. Now I have learned three things since I've been to "Ricks"; First, I am to put God first before all things. Second, I am to help others any way that I can and third but last I am to think and help my self. I [haven't] had to much practice at this, but I'm willing to try.

Date: undated (likely 1975, pre-mission / Ricks period)

[Page 2] Who am I? Am I a "nut" or just a crazy guy doing his own thing. My life has been thru alot of ugly and beautiful experiences. Mostly every experience relates to the question of; "Who am I?" Which gives me a feeling of insecurity and doubt of what I'm really going to become. I've tried every- thing you could [imagine?], but the spiritual ones I never forget. I'll try to attempt to relate this question in one of my experiences.

It was on a beautiful morning in the second week in August. The day was like any average day, which I'd go to work and then come home. As the day went on my boss broke his paint line. Paint flew all over the walls and even hit the ceiling. Me and this return missionary got the privilege to clean it up. We never got along too good (he always talked about the church and I wasn't too good of a Mormon.) While we were scrubbing the walls he started talking about a place called "Ricks College." This time I felt he was talking on my level. So I started re- sponding to him. I think I was [really?] interested in this so- called place. So I ask him if he would take me up there and get me in. He said "Sure."

The time finally came. I was in bed at the time he called. I got out of bed and answered the phone. You could never guess who it was; yes, it was that returned missionary. I told him to pick me up in a hour. After I hung up, I thought of who I was and why he was doing all this for me? I decided to try my best to get in this place called "Ricks." So I went and cut my hair. When I got back, that

[Page 3] missionary was talking to my mom. When I came in the door my mom almost fainted. I guess my hair gave her a pretty big shock. I kissed my mom good-bye and we were off to Ricks. My thoughts in my head were driving me crazy. "What is it really like."

When we arrived in a place called "Rexburg." He said, "This is the place." It was never the place I had pictured on the way up there. We went to this teacher's office. It was that missionary's friend. We talked and talked about a thing called "the expedition." I was really interested in going to Yellowstone National Forest and the Grand Canyon for eight weeks. So I signed up. Next, we went to the admissions office. They told me if I filled out [the paperwork?], that I'd have a pretty good chance getting in. After all this we went directly home.

When arrived home I told my mom everything. She was happy for me. I still felt that I wouldn't get in. In those four days I was home, I ran around getting [those?] papers signed. I got all of them signed except my medical card and my A.C.T. form. I thought I would never get in, but I still went. I can still remember the night. It was dark and very misty. I said my good-byes like I wasn't really going. As I drove away I had a feeling that maybe I would be back for awhile. All the way up there I was thinking I'd never get in. After about fourteen hours of driving I fell asleep, but at the wrong time. I woke up jumping back and forth in my truck. As I looked up I was headed straight for a fifteen foot sign. I

[Page 4] move out of the way just in time to miss it. After that experience I stop[ped] beside the road and took a nap. In a couple of hours I was up [driving?] again. Thinking that maybe some one up there told me to open my eyes. When I arrived at Ricks College, I was two hours late for class. This expedition thing I was in started one week before actual classes started. After class, my teacher took me out and registered me in [fifteen?] min. I could [have] spent two hours in registration, but he offered to help me.

So now I sit here in the Ricks College library thinking about; Who am I to have such a privilege to be a Ricks College student? The re- turned missionary put himself second. He could of said, "Go up there yourself." The teacher went out of his way to get me registered. What for? The reasons for all this is that everybody is a child of God, Brothers and sisters you would call them. So when that question comes up again, I can honestly say; "I am a child of God"

Who am I? I am a nut be- cause I like to do my own thing. Now I have learned three things since I've been to "Ricks"; First, I am to put God first before all things. Second, I am to help others any way that I can and third but last I am to think and help my self. I [haven't] had to much practice at this, but I'm willing to try.