Working at the Newspaper

     After the Navy I went to college.  Got myself an Associate degree and got promoted from computer operator (which - thank you very much - the Navy trained me to do) to computer programmer.  I worked for the Tulsa Tribune newspaper on a regular 8 to 5 shift and then continued school after work at night. 

     I was an avid bicycle rider.  Used to take my camping gear and bike in my truck and go with a club or organization somewhere and camp out and ride.  I did the Freewheel ride across Oklahoma a half dozen times.  It was nothing for me to ride a hundred miles in a day. 

     A friend at the Paper  called me to say that he had a paper route available that would give me great hills training and extra money to boot.  I took it.  It was a route in Downtown Tulsa that was mostly steep hills and great places to ride among old houses and historical areas and parks.  There was even a large round apartment building on the route and I would get into the air conditioned elevator, ride to the top and then run down floor by floor dropping papers at customer's apartments.  Since the whole building was air conditioned, it was pretty cool, in more ways than one. 

     One day I was delivering the papers after work at the newspaper.  I had ridden up to the top of that round building and got out of the elevator to lay a stack of papers on the desk of the radio station that was located up there.  Suddenly a guy from inside the office area yelled out "Bob.  Hey Bob Hohulski.  Hey, how ya doin?"
Sonofagun it was Alan.  My best friend from elementary school.  I was surprised he even recognized me but then, after looking at him for just a few seconds, I knew exactly who he was too. 

     He came out of the office and we hugged and shook hands and smiled really big.  We said how great it was to see each other and what the heck have each of us been doing with ourselves.  I said I just got out of the Navy a short time back.  He said that he was a radio disk jockey.  He said that his name was Rick Allen West on the air.  Doggone, really?  I mean now really?  That's one of my favorite D.J's.  I can't believe it.  And he's actually my best friend Allen from so long ago.  How cool.  We talked a bit and I said "Yea, I work for the newspaper".  We said we'll have to get together sometime.  I went on my way.

     Got on about halfway down the building delivering my papers.  And then remembered some points about our conversation.  And remembered how I stood there in front of him with my newspaper bag over my shoulder that said Tulsa Tribune.  And told him that I work for the newspaper. 

     What a great impression I made.  He was a locally famous radio D.J. And I was a newspaper delivery boy.