Here’s one memory about Paul Carlson from when he was a member of the Los Angeles Covenant Church.
The young people at the Los Angeles Covenant Church were about as serious as they could be in 1943 during World War II. That is to say they were carefree at 15 or 16 years of age; after all, many of them had just received their drivers’ license; furthermore, for most of them the ward seemed at least a million miles away.
On a whim, one night before the evening church service a dozen of us or more decided to exchange clothes before entering the sanctuary. We gathered in the men’s basement restroom and sized each other up. Paul Carlson and I chuckled when we realized the similarities. Both of us had the same first name, we were only weeks apart in age and almost the same weight and height. “Let’s do it!” we almost said at the same time. More laughter!
After awhile all of the boys that were able to switch clothes climbed the steep steps and entered the church. Remember, in those days we all word suits, dress white shirt and neckties.
There was a buzz all over church as we paraded our new look in and out of the service.
I don’t think we heard a word the minister said that evening.