when we first met

Saturday, September 30, was the day. The New England Mission Reunion was held in the evening at the beautiful Colonial Hills Chapel. The year was 1950.

While we were gathering together in the Chapel for the Program I saw Dave Hinckley, my former missionary friend in Nova Scotia.

But most important to me was the girl he was with. She was pretty and sweet. I wanted to meet her but as I remember, the opportunity did not arise for I only shook hands with Dave in passing. If a face can radiate revealing a beautiful spirit that lives within, then I knew of a beautiful soul when first I saw her.

That night I left with a suppressed sorrow that I had missed a golden chance to meet a wonderful girl. I felt I would probably never see her again and so I must forget the matter. So I did.

A few weeks later Lamba Delta Sigma held their get acquainted party for all the members and visitors who cared to come.

The party began when several persons received groups of about twenty persons, at their home for games and refreshments. One group came to my home.

When the parties had ended we went to one of two roller skating rinks where we skated together in a large body for the remainder of the evening.

This is where I saw her again. But, the glimpse of her were few and far between as she would be swallowed up again in the large crowd as we skated around the rink.

Of all the persons there that night--and I suppose that there were several hundred--only two persons interested me enough to want to meet them and take them out. She was one.

The evening drew on and closing time was soon at hand, and I hadn't yet had a chance to meet her. I remember the regrets I had after seeing her at the Reunion and failing to meet her then. I promised myself this second opportunity certainly would not be wasted.

I looked carefully until I saw her at the side with another person, sitting and talking. I skated over and talked to her and felt sad for sure when I found that another person would take her home afterwards and that I would not enjoy the opportunity.  

But I had met Marjorie Curtis at last, talked with her, and knew I would soon take her out. And I was happy.

I also met the other person who had caught my eye this night and took her out--but only once, for after that I took Marge out and interest in the rest was quickly lost.