Returning to Ricks College    Winter 1998

     By Johnny Young

     I remember when I got back to Rick’s; it was Spring Semester 1998. I was living in Delta Phi Apartments. I remember one day wondering what the Maverik’s were up to. So I thumbed through the phone directory and the only Maverik listed was Eric Brown. Wow! I hadn’t seen him since Winter Semester 1994. It had been years. I thought I should call him up, not to be friends again, but just to say hello. Eric was surprised to hear my voice again and was excited to see me. So, he drove over to my place and we went to Albertson’s out by Wal-Mart. (Rexburg’s mall) It was a good neutral location for us to meet with each other. We had a good talk and I think we both felt that any ill feelings we had towards each other had passed.

     Any way, Eric mentioned he had a girl friend named Josie and he wanted me to meet her. So, the next Sunday Eric invited me over to eat at his place and I showed up. I felt since he introduced me to his lady that he still valued our friendship or at least he wanted to build a friendship. A couple weeks went by and Eric invited me over to watch the Super Bowl. I gladly showed up with IBC root beer and Dominos pizza. We hardly watched the game because Jos and Eric wrestled the whole time. Eric went incredible a few times.

     I had an incredible experience one night at Craigo’s. I was chillin' with a couple CB3’ers (Kevin Nettleton and Any Stubbs) when in walks Big, Big, Big Leo. I hadn’t seen that guy in years. I was so amazed to be fortunate to cross paths twice in my life with that guy. All he said was, “Oh, hi.” I invited him to sit at my table, but he said he was with a friend and he would eat over at another table. Wow! I guess Leo put me in my place like he usually does. Anyway, I thought my chances of ever being his friend again were slim to none.

I     t was a whole different story when I saw DI for the first time in years. Eric told me he was coming, so I waited for hours at Eric’s pad for him to show up. Around midnight he finally arrived in El Sueno. DI had so much energy that night. He must have drunk a Smurf potion because he was wearing a baby blue New York Yankees ball cap. Anyway, it was a joyous moment to see him again.

     I also remember seeing T-Bone again. DI picked me up and we went and chilled at Bone’s apartment, which was located on the out skirts of town, near the highway. (Just joking, but it was far away and I am sure Bone remembers his walks to campus from his apartment.) Anyway, that night was great, we chilled like old times talking late into the night about who knows what. What impressed me the most about that night was the fact that Bone was still Bone. He had his computer, black lights, Marley posters, and a glow in the dark Tide Box. I thought Bone had purchased a special box, but all Tide boxes glow under black lights.
Anyway, that is how I came in contact with the Mavs Spring 98’.

     We had good times; it was like riding high tide. We had poker night at Centennial #8 with Paugh and Jared. We ordered Craigo’s pizza and listened to P-funk. That night I think I lost $6.23 in pennies, nickels and dimes. We had a great time until 3 a.m. in the morning. My roommates locked me out of my apartment that night because they thought I wasn’t coming home that night. (In Rexburg, I never carried my apartment key because no one locks their doors. That night was the very first time my roommates locked our door. It was my bad luck or should I say their bad luck. I pounded on the door until all 4 roommates woke up and opened the door. Being it was negative 25 degrees outside, no way was I gonna freeze my Texas butt all night in the cold like the night I slept in the bushes at the Marriott Center, HA, HA, HA.) Anyway, that night was the first time we all got together. Afterwards, it felt like we were friends again.

     We established stronger bonds the night we went camping in Paugh’s pop top Wennie Bagel. That night was truly classic. We drank $1 per bottle root beer and burned over 30 pallets, which we had “acquired” from local stores. Also, that night we saw Cassy mesmerize me with her dancing above the fire on the chimney. I think we also saw something else, but I won’t mention it here.

     I can’t forget to mention Leo’s frustration with his women and roommates. He punched holes or should I say windows in the walls of his apartment. I think DI was frustrated that semester too because he had to taxi us to and from his apartment. I think Bone was frustrated with walking so far to hang with the Mavs. So, one night we got together for shish kabobs and made a “thumb pole.” We pledged zero flakiness that we would all live together.

 

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