My Other Youthful Interests

Continued from the previous post....

In the eighth grade, my three closest friends had been allowed to join the high school band and even to go on their annual tour during the March break.  They came back full of excitement and stories about their adventures.  In high school, I knew I didn't have a hope of joining the band but there was a choir, which also went on tours--and I wanted to go!  If I recall, the choir didn't like to accept the younger students and they required an audition to get in....

During the tenth grade, I took voice lessons with a goal of auditioning for the choir the following year...and I made it!  The first year, we went on tour to eastern Canada--all the way to Newfoundland--and also to some New England states in the USA.  We performed every evening and travelled by bus during the day.  It was great!  In my second year, we travelled west to Vancouver...stopping at points in between...and we flew back.  I enjoyed the singing, besides the travelling....  At home, we often performed for church services.

After my tenth grade was finished, I got a job working with a large group of students on the "Community Crusade Against Drugs," through my church.  We sold magazines door-to-door on several health and addictions topics.  The next summer, I got asked to join a small group of students for the same program in Winnipeg, and I went. It was a rewarding experience.  The following summer, I joined some other students for this program in the province of Newfoundland. I also enjoyed it and was struck by how friendly the Newfoundland people were!

As a child and teen, my parents didn't have a TV in our home and they didn't want one.  My sisters and I did a few chores but otherwise, we had to find something to do.  [We had a cat--my cat.]  When I wasn't playing with my friends, I read a lot of books besides playing the piano.  I read both Christian and non-Christian books, and I enjoyed them all!  They say reading is a good foundation for writing and I've had an opportunity to do a lot....

My high school life was very busy, as people can see.... I also volunteered for a children's program at my church; and I participated sometimes in intramural sports--floor hockey and basketball.  [Have written elsewhere about my social life.]

Some of the police have heard about all or most of the above activities long ago...and they seemed to accept them...?  And it was the African lawyer who stirred things up, whether he wanted me in the police project or not!?  Now the project is mostly done...!