Opening Weekend

First of all let me state an aphorism that is more often right than not, “Nothing good happens after midnight.”

During the years when my parents were either young singles or young marrieds there was a dance pavilion at the head of Waterton Lakes, on the American side of the border. It burned down much to the relief of some concerned parents.

In my teenage years there was a dance pavilion on Waterton Ave in downtown Waterton. The building now houses the Bayshore Inn Thirsty Bear Kitchen and Bar. Youth around the area loved going to Waterton dances. For a time, Opening Weekend (Victoria Day) and Closing Weekend (Labour Day) were celebrated with “Midnight Frolic” dances, which, as the name implies, started at midnight.

When I was 17 I persuaded my parents to let me go to the Midnight Frolic. I took three friends with me, not my usual chums. My close friends’ parents wouldn’t allow them to go.

The dance finished at 2 am but my friends were nowhere to be found. It turns out they skipped the dance and had been drinking. That night I developed a bad attitude toward stupid drunk people. When I finally got the wayward souls home it was 4:00 am. I knew that I was in trouble so I turned off the car engine and coasted into the driveway, not wanting to wake my parents. I quietly snuck into the house only to find my parents sitting on the couch waiting up for me.

I don’t recall mom saying anything but it was what dad said that became one of the foundation stones in my value system.

My father was an active member of the United Church at that time. He was supportive of my LDS membership, in fact, he was the primary reason I was active. What he said completely surprised me. Dad pulled the Book of Mormon, not the Bible, off the shelf and read one verse, Mosiah 13: 20. Can you guess what it says? He didn’t say anything else and I headed up to bed.

I learned a few things that night. Staying up too late can cause all kinds of problems. Pick your traveling companions wisely. Drunks are stupid and cause collateral damage. Parents can surprise you. I also decided to honour my parents and not do anything that would give them cause to be embarrassed or worried because of how I acted.