LAST MONTH, BEFORE the new “no-hands” law went into effect, I decided to call my pal Tom on my cell phone as I left the beach. I usually hit every single light red all the way down Ingraham to I-8. Not on THIS day! It was clear sailing all the way. Even my back-up plan, the four lanes into one merge going over I-5, failed me. Never had to slow down there, either. What are the chances?
DESPITE A HISTORY OF ABJECT FAILURE, I decided to save a trip to Pacific Plaza and try to access my credit union account online. I typed my password incorrectly, which sent me to the back of the cyber line, where I had to create answers only I would know to a new set of Security Questions AND Challenge Questions. I was still trying to answer the first question when my screen finally went dark. What IS my favorite fruit?
Artistic Licenses: “ON BEACH” and “SRF PUNK,” interestingly, were both Arizona plates. “I SL HMS” made me wonder how big a market there was for hummus, but maybe she’s a Realtor. I’m sorta surprised that “TUFTTTT” made it past the censors, but it WAS on an Audi TT.
25 Years Ago: “City panel decides to curb those who live by the side of the road,” was the title of a piece in the Evening Tribune of July 14, 1983. It noted that the Public Service and Safety Committee voted 4-1 for an ordinance to prohibit use of vehicles for habitation, either overnight or day by day, along any city street. I wonder how that worked out.
50 Years Ago: A photo in the July 11, 1958 Evening Tribune showed six members of the Christ Lutheran Church Youth League earning money washing what may have been a ’57 De Soto. They should have charged extra for the fins. The kids were: Carol Mann, Roger Jensen, Jay Rock, Roger Hilton, Hugh Dannie, Ron Garvey and David Rock.
75 Years Ago: “Pacific Beach residents have asked the City Council to set aside city lands near the end of Lamont Street for park purposes,” said an item in the Evening Tribune City Hall Notes column on July 17, 1933. “Native shrubs would be retained and more planting done by adjacent residents to make a beauty spot. The council referred the request to the city manager.”
100 Years Ago: “WATERS OF FALSE BAY GIVE UP ONE OF ITS DEAD” was the morbid headline in the Evening Tribune for July 26, 1908. It was a partial conclusion to a sad tale that took place on July 13 when August and William Wollgast ” father and son ” capsized while fishing off the entrance to False Bay, or Mission Bay, as it is now known. It was William’s body that surfaced inside the bay and was found by another fisherman.
John Fry may be reached at (858) 272-6655 or [email protected].