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Can it really be morning?
At Christmas time, it was fairly easy to get a job sorting mail at the main St. Paul post office. A group of us began work in mid-December on the night shift. We would get off work at 6 a.m., time to get back to the dorm for a shower and change of clothes before classes began. There probably wasn’t much studying during that last week before Christmas vacation began. The pay was good, the job easy and plenty of chatter among the workers. In the week after classes were over, we usually got back to the dorm just in time to wake roommate John Lilja who had a day job at the Macalester post office. We were ready to sleep as he arose to have breakfast before starting work. One night, the Christmas mailing rush was over and we were told to go home about 3 a.m. We silently climbed the dorm stairs, entered our suite and changed all the clocks. Returning downstairs, we re-climbed the stairs with our usual morning chatter, waking a sleepy, grumpy John. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes and mumbling, "Oh, I wish I could have a few more hours of sleep." We watched, controlling our laughter, as he shaved, showered, dressed and headed off to the cafeteria. Minutes later he came bounding up the stairs, greatly irritated by our prank.
- Charles N. Johnson
The tale of a tall man at the fair
As Mac and U of M students, we roamed the Minnesota State Fair and were approached by a GIANT. He asked where he could look for some giant overalls. We directed him to Machinery Hill where a huge pair of Lee overalls were hanging for display. We helped him lower them from the telephone poles. He then was too embarrassed to try them on there and wanted help to take them somewhere else. We helped him place the overalls on top of his car and waved back at the gatekeepers as we drove away in separate vehicles.
But shortly after, he said he had to leave us and go back north to feed Babe. We were lost! What to do? We felt the public should be able to see these HUGE overalls. But where? Memorial Stadium at the U of M!! Having access to the stadium, we went inside, it took six or seven guys to haul the overalls to the top of the stadium. We then hung them on the outside of the stadium for all University travelers to see! We were thrilled to see this adventure in the St. Paul paper, even though it did not make the front page.
(This story received first place in the State Fair Memory Contest)
- Bill Milne
Please contact the Alumni Office with questions, comments or concerns.
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