THE WINSLOW SAGA: 1981 - 1996

PART THREE: THE REST OF THE EIGHTIES

........THIS IS A TRUE STORY. ALL NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED OR TRUNCATED EXCEPT FOR 'CARL'......

[1989]

1985-86

With the move to Mesa, Carl needs to make a new set of friends. He starts going to skating rinks on Christian Night, and makes several decent friends there.
On October 3 he meets a redhead named Alicia Van Dyke, who takes more than just a passing interest in him. He also makes a new buddy named Barry Fitzgerald who goes to Apollo High School.
Shortly, he starts attending church regularly, turning back to God and straightening out some things in his life. On December 9, 1985, the Corolla Diesel is finally repaired, and he starts work with Hop-To-It Messenger Service on January 20, 1986.

Reflecting on the failures of all his plans, he decides that meeting Denise Gottlieb just wasn't God's Will. He tears both Inquisitor articles in half and throws them away, but Denise is not completely forgotten.

1986-1988

For most of 1986, Denise and Nicole are 'set aside' so to speak. He then tries to find out whatever happened to Nicole. Because THAT is a story in itself, it has been moved to another page. He also obtains another copy of the August 2, 1983 Inquisitor.

DECEMBER 1988 TO JANUARY 1989 is a period of indecision. Carl contemplates going to California and selling his car to buy a small truck. He thinks over getting a better job. He writes in his diary that going to Winslow "...is starting to sound like a good idea again." He has enough money to stay in Winslow for a few weeks, but there's still the logistics problem: how to meet Denise.

Donald Winters and Alicia Van Dyke give him a little pep talk about the Air Force. Joining the military has sounded good for some time now, but he's got to give it more thought.

He calls Eddie Kessler in Glendale, California. He also calls Pronto Messenger Service. They tell him they are hiring. But he keeps the military option open.

For now, his choices are a job in L.A. or possible romance in Winslow.

Unfortunately, he picks L.A.

1989

JANUARY 13: There is a mild drizzle in Los Angeles. Carl meets Eddie at Glendale Community College in the afternoon. That night, Eddie introduces him to a friend, Marcos Gutierrez, who goes to an Assembly of God church in La Crescenta. Carl spends the night at Marcos' house in Sun Valley.

The following night, Marcos introduces him to a young lady named Kerri Golden, who works part-time at a convalescent center. She takes to him readily. Marcos puts Carl up at his house again, where he goes to sleep that night dreaming of Kerri Golden.

* * * JANUARY 26: Nearly out of money and with his car acting up, Carl walks to the Air Force Recruiting Station near Craig Martin's old house. The recruiter tells him he's six months too old for the Air Force, so he steers him next door to the Navy recruiter. He takes the pre-test and agrees to take the ASVAB a few days later. He scores a 97.

Five days later, he passes the physical and is given a departure date of May 22. He continues courting Kerri Golden very slowly. Too slowly, as it turns out, because by February 12, Eddie Kessler has won her heart.

On February 28, Carl is finally able to go back to Pronto Messenger Service. He stays with the job until May 12, and goes home to Mesa on the 16th. He contemplates driving to Winslow before shipping out to boot camp, but his alternator is acting up again so he can't chance it. May 30 he leaves for Great Lakes, Illinois, where he becomes part of Company 221. The company graduates on July 22.

DECEMBER 8: After a week in New York with his aunt and uncle, Carl arrives back in Phoenix for a few weeks' leave. The weather is getting colder, and he's never driven up State Route 87, plus he's got the car problem. He needs to carry a battery charger in his car at all times, and he can't afford a new alternator.

It's almost certain by now that Trip #3 to Winslow will have to wait for the 1990s.

CONTINUED...

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