Our world was changing greatly that spring and the retreat at Elkhart Lake gave future community leaders a chance to step back and reflect upon the world they were about to inherit. We took in the whole world from the perspective of young adults with a shared Jewish heritage, a fervent desire to move forward from the scars of the holocaust our parents experienced, and a vision of harmony, peace and love. From the fragrant smell of lilacs blossoming near a crystal clear lake our idyllic dream beckoned to breathe life into what became known as the baby boomer generation.
Then, we returned home.
For a week or two I scheduled time with my father to learn how to drive a car with a stick shift. Although a few cars with standard transmissions had the shift on the floor between “bucket seats,” most cars at the time kept the shifter on the column to maintain the bench seat allowing two passengers to sit in the front with the driver.
Donna and I quickly realized this setup worked better for the driver, me, to put his arm around the girlfriend, her, while driving. She would however have to slip away so I could use my right arm to shift after each stop. We became quite adept at this and she would slip back in against my chest and neck as soon as we were up to cruising speed.
Once my foot release on the clutch coordinated with my steady pressure on the accelerator Dad let me use the car. Yet another American Motors vehicle, this three speed six cylinder with overdrive was a nine-year-old Rambler with a flat gray painted exterior he “practically stole” for two hundred dollars. Overdrive, a way to provide fuel economy, was achieved in third gear by taking the foot off the accelerator and then putting it back.
All these features enhanced the driving experience, but the special feature my friends found most fascinating was the reclining front seat. Adorned with a flower and windmill print fabric tailored to fit the seat by pulling a lever the vertical portion reclined at several positions, but also went all the way back to align with the horizontal position of the front and back seats creating a virtual bed that enhanced the parked experience.
Armed with our new skills for creating a better planet we climbed into the Rambler with excitement in every breath. Next, we headed to the Rexall drugstore to buy a twelve-pack of Teddy Bear toilet paper. Finally, we carefully selected our targets. In order to make this a most meaningful event we chose only the homes of close friends who lived near enough for us to enhance several landscapes before the evening was done.
Waiting until it was dark enough to complete our mission without being detected by the occupants or neighbors, we parked a short distance away and worked in pairs winding the tissue through branches, around mailboxes, and across front doors. Donna and I created a signature move where one of us would wrap it around one door handle then toss the roll over the rooftop to the other who would take it and wrap it around the other door handle.
Most of our targets, both parents and children, received our gesture in the spirit it was intended laughing the whole time they cleaned up the mess. However, my cousin Richard, Jim’s father, surprised me. A prankster himself, he once told my father to go ahead and turn in a broken bottle along with the good bottles for his deposit. As my father approached the clerk for his refund Richard started hollering about the broken bottle and embarrassed my father. But, he didn’t see our mischief in the same way. He told us he thought the neighbors would think it was those Jews creating trouble. To this day I believe he was wrong, but we never did paper his house again.
What pranks did you enjoy as a teenager? Please share in the comment section.
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