Traditions have come and gone, but some have still managed to stick around on the campus of Rosedale Bible College. Applebee’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, all-night volleyball, ice-cream after Sunday night services, late night theological conversations in the resident director, Brian Miller’s, office, thrift shopping, and even the occasional trip to Wal-mart to goof off and pick up the week’s rations of Ramen and other “necessities” that the average college kid needs to survive. On Friday nights Applebee’s is flooded on a regular basis with anywhere from five students to half of our campus. Half-priced appetizers are a poor college kid’s dream. Boneless wings and mozzarella sticks are consumed in unhealthy amounts, and waitresses receive enough in tips to put a down-payment on a small car (well, maybe not.)
Tuesdays are the usual Buffalo Wild Wings (“b-dubs”) nights because they have 40-cent wings (more cheap food to satisfy our souls.) All-night volleyball is coming up in a few weeks. Teams are formed, and the set teams have their tournament until the wee hours of the night (no curfew, whooo!) and the balling of the volley is usually followed by an early morning trip to Steak and Shake for a hearty breakfast. Breakfast is usually followed by a well deserved slumber. And for some strange reason, beyond any scientific explanation, the majority of the students who partake in the volleying, end up with colds or others sicknesses and ailments.
Thrift shopping is probably my favorite of the time-honored traditions of Rosedale Bible College (sorry for the repetition of being Mennonite and cheap.) Rummaging through racks and racks of old and unwanted clothing, deciding whether or not to buy that leopard print leotard that you think is hot, even though everyone else is leaning towards the contrary. You stare at the yellow, brown, and green retro style 70s couch in anger and resentment, because it won’t fit inside of your dorm room. Finally you settle for the sweater that reminds you of your favorite childhood hero, Mr. Rogers, from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. You know what I’m talking about. The one that the girls make fun of when you’re not around. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. 
Wal-Mart trips are just as fun but not as much cool stuff is there. Wal-Mart trips are a lot of fun when you go in huge groups of people and embarrass all of your friends. What’s even better than that is when you jump inside one of those electric cart thingamabobs designated for the elderly, disabled, and just plain lazy. Cruising around, winds blowing through your hair, as you try to pop a wheelie to impress your friends. Even though they pretend like they don’t know you inside the store, they’re still your friends. Another classic is ice-cream after the Sunday evening service. Nothing like a nice, refreshing bowl of Rocky Road after praising God in the chapel. For those of us (including me) who are lactose intolerant, we must limit ourselves or our roommates will not like us very much.
And last, but most certainly not least (of the traditions that I choose to put in this blog), the late night theological conversations in Brian Miller’s office. We sit in Brian’s office and talk about life, love, God, girls and everything in between. Exact details are forbidden to be told, as I fear that my life will come to a very sudden and tragic demise under the hands of the men’s dorms occupants.
Traditions carry on for generations. Sometimes they only stick around for a few years. Let us hope that these time-tested traditions of Rosedale Bible College will remain long enough that our children will pass their time at Rosedale the same way that we did. Great lessons and even greater friends make these traditions even more attractive and enjoyable. May your Applebees and “B-dubs” ventures be as amusing and creative as mine have been. Play volleyball until your little heart is contented, even if you get sick – you’ll always get better. Plus the trip to Steak and Shake is worth it anyway. Buy the leopard-print leotard or you’ll regret it all the days of your natural life. Cruise around the Wal-Mart in the electric cart thingamabob while you’re young, because you can make a natural assumption that they’re not as exhilarating when you get old and feeble and actually need to use them. It’s a little more difficult to pop a wheelie when you have gout. Eat the ice-cream, even if your roommate follows you around the dorm halls with a can of Axe. Talk until 2 in the morning in the RD’s office about all of your confidential stuff. Your buddies will only spill the proverbial beans if they need to black-mail you. Enjoy the Rosedale traditions as much as I have. Maybe you can blog about your experience later.