STEPHANIE WHEELER FINALLY HAS HER LEARNER’S PERMIT. That means she can drive as long as she has an adult passenger. Who better to fill that role than her grandmother, Starbucks regular Ande McCarren? This past week, Ande’s had her share of horror stories. Stephanie’s apparently a quick study, however, because Ande allowed that Stephanie had finally “turned the corner.” Jeff Dalrymple couldn’t resist — “So she’s up to speed? On the right track?” IT’S SUCH A TREAT to be known and loved throughout Pacific Beach. A while back I was dining at China Inn when North Shores Printery owners Jay and Annette Brewer came in with daughter Addie. Jay went back outside to put a parking validation in the machine and I heard Annette say in a loud whisper, “It’s John Fry. It’s not too late to go somewhere else.” She was joking. I think. I FEEL LIKE BOB WOODWARD in “All The President’s Men.” I keep getting cryptic phone calls. Remember the mystery girl who wasn’t sure whether life was still worth living after learning that Los Panchos bit the dust and she was no longer going to be able to enjoy their hot carrots? Not long afterward, another girl called and told me the site was being remodeled and would soon open as a fish store. Took me back to That Fish Store in Pacific Plaza. Actually, I think that one was a pet store. This one may have fish that you eat. I’VE BEEN VISITING THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF OCEAN BEACH lately because of the very thing I’ve always teased about — being stuck in the ’60s. The good news is that, unlike Pacific Beach, there are places on Newport Avenue where you can still sit at the counter and enjoy breakfast. That got me to thinking about the places on this side of the flood control channel where I used to enjoy the most important meal of the day: Copper Skillet (now China Inn), Spyro’s (Papa John’s Pizza), Gail’s Coffee Shop (the pharmacy at CVS Pacific Plaza), Sheldon’s (McDonald’s on East Mission Bay Drive), Victor’s (Mission Bay Golf Course) and JR’s, at the foot of Clairemont Drive. Oh, well. Time marches on. SPEAKING OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS, “Doc” Wilding called after receiving the September issue of the Pacific Beach Historical Society newsletter that talked about the conversion of Ocean Boulevard’s auto lanes into today’s promenade. He loaned me some additional items, including a copy of Eve Smull’s “Calendar” magazine from August 1987, which I’ve shared in the October newsletter. I especially enjoyed the advertisements. They included T. D. Hays, (PB Shore Club), the Barbecue Pit (Bub’s Dive Bar), the Canteen Club (Kono’s), Ricci’s Ristorante Italiano (PB Sushi), and the “Old” cafes – Ocean Beach (Your Mama’s Mug), Mission Beach (The Mission), Pacific Beach (Rip Curl) and Del Mar (Chevy’s in Flower Hill Mall). Oh, well. Time marches on.  Am I repeating myself? — John Fry may be reached at (858) 272-6655 or by e-mail at [email protected].