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San Diego Scuttlebutt, Number 2 >
NAPA Gets Underway!
Here Are the Earlybirds
Joe Curran, our president, was the first arrival on the scene, then Henry, Vi Jolly and daughter Eleanor Bloomfield made it next. Others coming in Tuesday were Ann and Carl Vrooman, Ed and Lucy Fielding, Glenn and Sally Engebretsen, Jake and Leah Warner, George Hamilton, Ruby Quillman, Elaine Peck, Louise and Gert Lincoln, Tom Whitbread, Vic, Rowena and Alan Moitoret, Harold and Gussie Segal, Harold and Sonya Davids.
Like Capistrano’s Swallows
It’s back in San Diego again, and that old AJ magic is here again too. Nobody really knows at this early hour exactly what will happen. Conventions are like the March axiom, they can begin serenely and wind up tumultuously, or vice versa. But the real thrill is meeting old friends from distant points and welcoming newcomers, indoctrinating them to the mysterious enchantment of amateur journalism. – Glenn Engebretsen & Harold Segal
The Grouch in Southern California
Ah, the land of snowbirds, assorted nuts and NAPA West. What more could one ask for? Or in this case, two ask for?
Well, for starters let’s consider what everyone thinks of when the magical phrase “Southern California” is uttered. Of course, sunshine and blue skies. Only trouble is, they fail to mention that the air is also blue, well sort of a yukky-blue, but I think they call it “smog.”
In the several months we have been part of the scene here, we have done many things, much of which has already been duly reported in the Grouch’s Journal.
We were into El Cajon twice and Hemet three or four times. The Private Press of Gale Sheldon’s withstood two onslaughts of the Grouch. The Little Press of Bill Gordon’s in Hemet withstood a number of kicks by the Grouch as he kicked his way through several more Grouches, with timely assists from Host Bill. During this time we moved from Anaheim to the Fountain of Youth Spa at Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea and then a month later across to Salton City. Where we’ll be by the time this reaches print and the Convention is anybody’s guess.
Hemet, I’m sure most of you know, is one of those fortunate places whose primary industry is cashing Social Security checks.
Before I move on, though, I must mention that very special Sunday in March when I met NAPA West face to face. We, Rosella and I, had spent the weekend with the Bill Gordon’s in Hemet. On Sunday morning the Ed Fieldings and Gordons got together, divided the load (Laurence Hines was also there from Sedona, Arizona) and we drove into North Hollywood with the Fieldings.
That was a fun time where I had the distinct pleasure of meeting many faces again and some new ones for the first time. I also attended my first NAPA West meeting and that was a gas, in spite of the fact there were some notable absences like Ann Vrooman, Sally Engebretsen and Hyman Bradofsky, just to name a few.
They all assured me they were members in good standing and you know they would never lie about that, would they? Now a lot of other things they might lie about… grandchildren, printing, weather, etc., but not about membership. Heavens, that would be sacrilege. But the last three… well, let’s just say there were few bashful people in the crowd and non-bashful people have been known… let’s face it, as AJ’s they must be creative.
We have enjoyed this last winter and met a lot of wonderful people, seen a lot of wonderful country and pleasured in a lot of warm weather and warm friendships.
This is written mid-March and I hope the Hagemans will be in attendance in July. If we only knew where we’d be by then.
Jack and Rosella Hageman, AKA The Grouch and wife.
Why Come to San Diego?
One of the joys of a NAPA gathering is the anticipation of who may appear. Exclamations of pleasure greet newly-arrived old friends; reports that the so-and-sos will not turn up, causes genuine regrets. The simple device of a peripatetic convention brings many members together for the first time and indeed that is one of the happiest aspects of this peculiar(ly) delightful hobby.
Confucius say: He who wants a handset convention paper chooses 14 pt body type, not 9 pt, fer hevvins’ sake.
Quotable quote: “The more I have to conserve, the more conservative I get.”
Deja Vu, Etc.
On arriving at the Holiday Inn, the sight of the Town & Country Motel across the road brought immediate recollections of the last San Diego convention. It does not seem possible that it was ten years ago. Many of the same people are here – a testament to the value of these meetings to these faithful attenders. – Jacob L. Warner
The weather is balmy, the hotel is beautiful, the air conditioner works and the fellowship is great!
A fine dinner was enjoyed by a group of 19 at Anthony’s Fish Grotto on Tuesday night – Ruby Quillman
