Only Date at Ricks College

The end of my Freshman year in college brought many changes. The boy I was crazy about was in the MTC, and my best friend in Ellensburg was busy with her life elsewhere. How could I go back to Central without them? What's a girl to do?

Well, what any girl would do, naturally. Move to Idaho.

I went to Ricks College for six months. Summer and Fall of my Sophomore year. I moved in with five other girls, ALL from Idaho. Luckily, my dear friend Anna lived right across the street. I spent most of my days pining away for the one I loved. Oh, I was a mad woman. Checking the mail ten times a day. Swooning over letters. Why would I even look at a member of the other species - heaven forbid! I was a goner. A wreck. And let me just make a formal apology to all roommates Summer and Fall, right here and now. If I were you, I would have punched me.

So my life consisted of letters from said boy - to and from. Missing said boy, crying, whining, and being disgusted by all others and their situations. None were as important as mine. (woof, really - someone put me out of my misery.) My life also consisted of Art Classes, which I LOVED at Ricks. Good times with my Fall roommates. (I can't even tell you the names of the Summer batch. Something like, 'big hair', 'owns too many floral prints', and 'I'm dying to get married at 18'. -I know, I'm mean) I also spent my days at The Ard's, learning my much needed life's lessons. And the rest of the time I spent trying to stay warm. Rexburg is COLD.

So in all of the boy-wahh-ness, I never even talked to another boy. And why would I? The ratio at that time, of girls to boys, was like 3 to 1. And when you factor in That One Girl, the one everyone wants to date, it's more like 30 to 1. So, I was better off waiting patiently (tip my halo here) for my dearest. (never mind the fact that I already sent one missionary off prior to this one, and would shortly send another off...okay, but I really did like this one best. Until Peter, of course. Who, luckily, I met on the coming home side of his mission, not the leaving.) Okay, where was I? Oh, yes. No boys. Right. Which brings me to the one and only date I had at Ricks College.

Now, I'm a nice girl. I've never said no to a first date. A second maybe, but not a first. So of all the boys I interacted with, which aren't a ton in the Art dept. of an LDS school, I was asked out by a very odd boy. I don't even know his name. But I'll give you the run down.

He was a return Missionary from a French mission. He was at least four inches shorter and 50 lbs lighter than me. He wore thick glasses, a trench coat and had a Star Trek pin on his lapel. He carried, FOR REAL, his Jurassic Park I.D. badge, which "gave him the right to feed the animals." (Oh, heaven help me NOW!) He picked me up, on foot, wearing the trench coat and 'fingerless' gloves.

Let's just say this, luckily - I didn't know anyone at that dance. He only wanted to dance slow dances, didn't talk, and mostly just stood around. At the end of the dance, he quickly walked me home and that was it. I'm not sure I ever even talked to him again. Not out of meanness, just out of awkwardness. And let me clarify, it really was nice of him to ask me out. No one else did, that's for sure. And you gotta hand it too him, it's pretty gutsy to ask out a girl A LOT taller (and bigger) than you. Right?

So, there you are. I thought you all might enjoy a little chuckle from the only date I ever had a Ricks College. Don't worry, I was too busy reading, writing, and dedicating songs to missionaries to really care. (really, someone - hit me!)