We were sophomores in college, back home in Abilene for the Thanksgiving holiday. Ada studied vocal music at North Texas University, Denton. I studied journalism and worked on the University Daily Texan, Austin.
Ada wasn’t the beauty queen in our Abilene High School days. But she was a good-looking soprano soloist and the classmate with the quickest wit.
I invited Ada out for Friday and Saturday night dates. First night we ‘dined’ on hamburgers and French Fries. That’s when I got a plateful of sororities at her North Texas College.
They have six sororities there, and I was rushed by all of them. All asked me to pledge….maybe you don’t know how proud I was. But then Richard, you’re not a fraternity member.
Of my fraternity membership deficiency, Ada mentioned many times. The next day I thought about breaking our Saturday night movie date.
Instead I cut a piece of 8-by-10 inch cardboard into a triangle. Found a picture to copy, drew a moose head, colored my cutout. I inscribed our motto–A rolling stone gathers no moose. With a safety pin I attached my cardboard to my overcoat.
When Ada opened the door at her house, she got the message. Giggled slightly as she unhooked my cardboard delta and pinned to her overcoat.
As we stood in line at the Paramount Theater with curious college students, Ada proclaimed, “Dick and I are pinned.”
Still remember her angelic soprano voice. Thought twice about writing new lyrics for the music. Would have loved to hear Ada sing, “I’m the Sweetheart of Delta Moose.”
Photo by Lightspring at Shutterstock
