Griffs Jobs

During Freshman orientation, I met a guy standing in line waiting for
our class schedules who would become my buddy during my one and
only year at RIT. He was from New Haven Ct. His friendship was a
god sent to make my time at RIT enjoyable knowing I had a connection
since I was 3000 miles from home. I stayed in the Dorms after classes
studying most of the time except for our Friday night Outings. I would
hook up with my buddy almost every Friday Night and hit the Red Barn
a local watering hole. The Red Barn featured beer by the pitcher and pizza
of course. We spent many a Friday night at the Red Barn and sometimes
ventured over to Genesee State with the hopes of meeting ladies
which we struck out on for the most part.
As the beauty of the Fall Leaves started to blow away in early November
and the snow started which did not stop for what seemed like eternity,
my mind and attitude started to change. I spent Thanksgiving with a
High School Friend in 1974 driving my VW from RIT up to Kennebunkport
Maine to meet her. It was a great experience seeing her and
doing some sightseeing including visiting the towns of Boston and
Portland Maine. She made me some homemade granola to take back to
my dorm which I must admit was incredible.
For Christmas Break I boarded a flight and flew home to stay with my
Mom who was living in Newport Beach. I was relieved to be home and
to spend time with Mom who was living on Bayside Drive just a short
walk from Balboa Island. While Christmas shopping at Fashion Island in
Newport Beach I was browsing through books at the bookstore. I ended
up purchasing a Bible from the Store. I had been feeling lonely being
so far away from home and had been introduced to a Christian Group
of Students at RIT who spoke to me briefly about getting to know the
Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, My oldest sister Cheryl had become
a Christian and I was not sure of what a Christian meant since I was
raised a Catholic and believed in God. Little did I know that change was
coming from my purchase of the bible. After Christmas break I boarded
the plane bound for Rochester with my new bible tucked away. I arrived
in Rochester on a weekend.
The dorms were empty since most of the kids were still not back from
the Holiday Break. It was very lonely. I had a bottle of Wine in my room
and started to drink. About halfway through the bottle it was like a light
appeared in my dark room. I know it was God. I felt the presence. I
preceded to pour the rest of the wine down the sink, grabbed my bible
and started to read.
33