I GO FOR YOU!

When I was in high school, I began to date.  One of the first girls I dated regularly was from my home church in New Brighton.  Her name was Jeannie.  After awhile, I decided to get her a gift, so I went to a jewelry store and bought a nice charm bracelet.  I also purchased a round, silver medallion for the bracelet that was engraved with the words:  I Go For You!

Jeannie loved it.

Then a little later, Debbie and I began to date.  For a brief while, I was actually dating both girls.  Then, gradually, Debbie and I became closer and closer.  So, again I thought it would be nice to get her a gift.  Well, since Jeannie had appreciated the bracelet so much - I got one for Debbie too!  Plus, I couldn't resist it - I also got her the round, silver medallion that said, I Go For You!

Debbie loved it, too!

Then in the summer of 1968, we started having some stress in our relationship.  Time for Family Camp arrived.  By now, I was dating another girl named Beth.  The path was well worn at this point, so I headed for the jewelry store again.  You guessed it:  got a charm bracelet and another round, silver medallion that read:  I Go For You!

Beth loved it, too!

When the first day of camp arrived, I pulled onto the campground.  A short time before my arrival, Jeannie and Debbie had been talking and noticed one another's bracelets - and figured things out.  When I climbed out of my car, I turned and saw Debbie - halfway across the campground - with her hands on her hips screaming at the top of her lungs:  "I HATE YOU, HAROLD HAIRE!"

Later in the camp, I brought Beth down for an evening service and they felt inclined to tell her that she was dating a two-timing cheat.  That's when they discovered that she had one too!

It was a long, lonely, miserable camp for me.  I was the dish-washer that year.  I came in to work one afternoon to find a huge, yellow balloon sitting on the sink;  uh-huh - printed on it were the words:  I Go For You!   

Debbie doesn't have that bracelet anymore.  It's probably in the high grass somewhere behind the cottages!