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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, January 14, 2004
For some reason, the subject of buses rolled into my
mind (or a reasonable facsimile of same) for this week.
Some folks spell the plural of bus as busses, but not me.
For me, busses are kisses; I assume you could get bussed
on buses.
As a boy I rode buses with my Mom from the Linda
Vista area of San Diego to Downtown San Diego. With
all the stopping and starting, it sometimes seemed that
we’d never get there. Many times, it seemed that the air-
liners landing at Lindbergh Field were going to touch the
bus roof.
Often, way back when, we’d get off the bus near the
foot of Broadway, close to the Lane Field baseball facility,
and transfer to a clanging trolley car, which would take us
up Broadway and hang a left around 15 th or 16 th street I
believe. We’d ride the trolley to the Balboa Park merry-
go-round and the San Diego Zoo.
Sometimes, when returning home in the early eve-
ning, the bus would be crowded with workers from the
aircraft factories along Pacific Coast Hwy. And during the
summer months in San Diego (January through Novem-
ber) it would be hot in the bus. Usually it didn’t bother me
much, especially if I had any popcorn remaining from the
huge five-and-dime store downtown. My Mom would buy
me a 10-cent bag that was about 3-feet tall. Plenty of pop-
corn there to keep me occupied while she shopped, and for
the trip home.
Lots more people seemed to use buses in those days. I
used to have a bunch of bus tokens, but they disappeared.
I’ve ridden Greyhound buses several times, not only to El
Paso, Texas from San Diego; but from San Diego to
Baker, Calif. Don’t go to Baker unless you really have to.
It’s situated in the Mojave Desert between Barstow, an-
other place to avoid unless you want to fry eggs on the
sidewalk, and the Nevada border.
In the seventh- and eighth-grades, I was forced to
ride the St. Rita’s School bus, an ancient vehicle with a
driver of the same vintage.
As a high school freshman, sophomore and during
part of my junior year (until I turned 16 and got my driv-
ing license) I rode a lot of San Diego Transit buses. Way
too many. At one point, when we lived in National City on
the south edge of the city of San Diego, I had to take three
buses just to get to school. Had to leave the house fairly
early too.
I’d take the W bus from a stop not too far from our
home; get off in Downtown National City and ride the V
bus to Downtown San Diego; then transfer to the O bus
at Horton Plaza for the ride up to the North Park area
and St. Augustine High. For going home, strangely
enough, I’d reverse the process.
I was glad to finally be licensed to drive, as taking
those buses was not a lot of fun. Encountered some inter-
esting people though, including Sailors, Marines, con-
struction workers and tuna cannery employees. We ma-
cho high school boys always sat in the rear of the bus,
where we could listen to the dirty jokes, salty language
and weird comments from some of the aforementioned.
Rode Mexican buses a few times from the Mexico/
U.S. border; once all the way to Ensenada, Baja California,
some 80 miles south of Tijuana. I’m here to tell you: No
one gets in the way of a Mexican bus. But enough about
buses. It’s time for a bus stop.
(Editor’s Note: Views
and commentary expressed
in letters to the editor are
strictly those of the letter-
writers.
***
Typed, double-spaced
letters are acceptable for
c o n s i d e r a t i o n . H a nd -
written letters that are dou-
ble-spaced and highly legi-
ble also can be considered
for publication. Cards of
thanks are not accepted as
letters.)
***
What’s Necessary
From Lucy Angel
O’Brien
The deputies here
sometimes perform unnec-
essary car stops. For exam-
ple: one license plate? One
light dimmer than the
other? Let’s use some kind
and sensible discretion.
A woman’s child is
picked up by a stranger in
a kidnap gone awry, and it
was not worthy of pursuit
and further investigations?
Something is wrong.
Let us merit what
needs to be done and omit
what is truly unnecessary.
We appreciate law and
order when it has all well-
being in mind. And when
it is not, it is not just.
Scottish thanks
From Sharon Coots
The Shire of Myrtle-
holt/Caversgate
Cave Junction
We appreciate the edi-
tor and the other wonderful
people who braved the
weather to come to our
annual Scottish New Year/
Hogmany feast.
Although the turnout
was small, because of the
weather, a good time was
had by all.
We especially appreci-
ate George and Anwyn
Leverett of “Around the
Hearth” for their wonder-
ful music; and the poets,
story tellers and “Bonnie
Knees” contestants for the
fabulous entertainment.
We can only hope we
have better weather next
year.
IVHS Activities Calendar
Brought to you by the folks at
592-3556
Cave Jct .
469-7545
Brookings/
Harbor
Illinois Valley News
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and
published by Robert R. (Bob) and Jan Rodriguez
Bob Rodriguez, Editor El Jefe
Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post
Office as Official Newspaper for Josephine County and
Josephine County Three Rivers School District, published
at 321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523
Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
Post Office Box 1370 USPS 258-820
Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330
Volume 66, No. 43
Staff: Cindy Newton, Chris Robertson,
Michelle Binker, Shane Welsh, Becky Loudon
& Kacy Clement
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14
*School Board Meeting
at Lincoln Savage
7 p.m.
*Belfour – here - lunch
& after school senior
graduation orders
THURSDAY, JAN. 15
*Wrestling at
Mazama - 5;30 p.m.
FRIDAY, JAN. 16
*Boys basketball vs.
Henley - here
3:45/5:30/7 p.m.
*Girls basketball at
Henley - 5:30/7 p.m.
*After game dance
until 11 p.m.
MONDAY, JAN. 19
*Martin Luther King Jr.
Day - no classes
TUESDAY, JAN. 20
*Finals week
Reality is merely
an illusion,
albeit a very
persistent one.
- Albert Einstein -
I try to take each
day one at a time,
but lately, they all
attacked me at once.
No, I couldn't live in
Switzerland, They poke
holes in my cheese.
- Kevin McKinney -
LEGIONNAIRES LEND HEART - American Legion Auxiliary 70 Junior members filled
Christmas bags with homemade cookies, candies, personal hygiene items and other
goodies for veterans at the White City Domiciliary just before Christmas. The senior
auxiliary members and veterans joined the junior members in singing Christmas
carols throughout the Dom after the gifts were distributed. (Photo by Auxiliary 70).
Short life
From Lou & Nora
Trujillo
Cave Junction
Alex Gardner, 42,
passed away while on his
postal route in Grants Pass
on Monday, Jan. 5.
He was a loving hus-
band to Lori and an excel-
lent father to his son, Alex
Allen, whom he leaves
behind.
His son will graduate
this year from high school,
and the family was plan-
ning to send him to college
in the fall.
Now, this plan has
been put on hold (his fa-
ther was the major source
of income). Even though
this young man works for
Jeff and Karen Stiles, co-
owners of Oregon Caves
Chevron in CJ, and main-
tains a 4.1 grade average,
college may now not be
possible. What a loss this
would be.
A bank account has
been opened at Home Val-
ley Bank, P.O. Box 129 in
Cave Junction, for dona-
tions for this deserving
family.
Don’t attempt vast projects with half-vast ideas.