Rain, Rain and Rain
By Randy Miller, Randymiller@taftindependent.com -
February 5, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Hasn't it been nice the last couple of weeks ?? Rain !! What a concept. It certainly is welcomed and needed but I don't have to tell you that. It is nice to see the hills so green this early on; snow in the mountains, how great is that; cleaner air too. By Jove, I think it must be winter time in Taft, the best of places to live.
I'm still an old school kind of guy. I still cruise Center Street after all these years. In the 50's and 60's it was called "Dragging Center". Our parents hated it, but then, they always knew where we were. There used to be Devine's Drive-In where the Gas War convenience store is now located at 10th and Center. We'd circle around there, head east down Center Street bumper to bumper, turn right on 4th Street, then left on Main Street, turn left at the old "Rec", down to Center, then left backup Center to complete the circuit. It would take twenty minutes to make that 7-8 block lap but no one cared. It was to see to be seen. Sometimes we'd cruise on down to the A & W Drive-In ( Little Caesar's now) and roll thru their parking lot, then back up 2nd Street to Center or we'd flip a "U" on Center at 2nd Street. The City folks later put a "No U-turn" sign at that intersection to try an stem the cruising. Friday and Saturday nights were packed with kids and cars. When I was in the Navy in the mid 60's, I'd leave San Diego on Friday by bus and wind up in Bakersfield (B-town). I'd call Devine's Drive In and ask the car hop if there was anyone in the parking lot I knew. Sure enough, one of my friends would be in there having a 10 cent coke and 25 cent fry. They'd immediately come over to the bus station and pick me up even when some of them were on a date. Now where else but in a small town could that that kind of thing happen ??
Sometimes when I am out driving around I am stunned by what I see when I really look at what I'm looking at. Have you ever noticed how tall those two trees are in the Ford City Park ?? Would it be fair to say that they are probably the tallest, fullest trees in Taft ?? Now I have started to notice the other trees in our community. Probably some palm trees around somewhere may be taller, but these two trees just look huge to me. The County must have their hands full taking care of them. Sometimes you just have to look up.
When you are out and about and driving by on Center Street, do you take notice of the Fox Theater ?? Do you think it's always going to be there because it has always been there ?? Ginny and I, on the night we went to see Avatar, a first run movie mind you, there were only about ten people in the theater with us. How long do you think that they will continue to operate with that few patrons in attendance ?? If we don't go to the movies here in Taft instead of B-town (I won't preach to you about the convenience, the cheaper ticket prices, the gas savings, etc) but I will tell you, "use it or lose it". Remember the hospital we didn't use ?? See you at the movies ??
Well, the City finally has a budget, probably the last City in California to have one. Yikes !! Not a record we should be proud of. We all have to remember it is a fluid document that can be changed and modified as needed. Hopefully this year the Council can approve one by July 1, like we are supposed to. Even the State had a budget in place.
Here's a thought to ponder;
"Say what you mean and mean what you say, but just don"t be mean when you say it". Know anyone like that ??
Stay in touch.
Randy
Hasn't it been nice the last couple of weeks ?? Rain !! What a concept. It certainly is welcomed and needed but I don't have to tell you that. It is nice to see the hills so green this early on; snow in the mountains, how great is that; cleaner air too. By Jove, I think it must be winter time in Taft, the best of places to live.
I'm still an old school kind of guy. I still cruise Center Street after all these years. In the 50's and 60's it was called "Dragging Center". Our parents hated it, but then, they always knew where we were. There used to be Devine's Drive-In where the Gas War convenience store is now located at 10th and Center. We'd circle around there, head east down Center Street bumper to bumper, turn right on 4th Street, then left on Main Street, turn left at the old "Rec", down to Center, then left backup Center to complete the circuit. It would take twenty minutes to make that 7-8 block lap but no one cared. It was to see to be seen. Sometimes we'd cruise on down to the A & W Drive-In ( Little Caesar's now) and roll thru their parking lot, then back up 2nd Street to Center or we'd flip a "U" on Center at 2nd Street. The City folks later put a "No U-turn" sign at that intersection to try an stem the cruising. Friday and Saturday nights were packed with kids and cars. When I was in the Navy in the mid 60's, I'd leave San Diego on Friday by bus and wind up in Bakersfield (B-town). I'd call Devine's Drive In and ask the car hop if there was anyone in the parking lot I knew. Sure enough, one of my friends would be in there having a 10 cent coke and 25 cent fry. They'd immediately come over to the bus station and pick me up even when some of them were on a date. Now where else but in a small town could that that kind of thing happen ??
Sometimes when I am out driving around I am stunned by what I see when I really look at what I'm looking at. Have you ever noticed how tall those two trees are in the Ford City Park ?? Would it be fair to say that they are probably the tallest, fullest trees in Taft ?? Now I have started to notice the other trees in our community. Probably some palm trees around somewhere may be taller, but these two trees just look huge to me. The County must have their hands full taking care of them. Sometimes you just have to look up.
When you are out and about and driving by on Center Street, do you take notice of the Fox Theater ?? Do you think it's always going to be there because it has always been there ?? Ginny and I, on the night we went to see Avatar, a first run movie mind you, there were only about ten people in the theater with us. How long do you think that they will continue to operate with that few patrons in attendance ?? If we don't go to the movies here in Taft instead of B-town (I won't preach to you about the convenience, the cheaper ticket prices, the gas savings, etc) but I will tell you, "use it or lose it". Remember the hospital we didn't use ?? See you at the movies ??
Well, the City finally has a budget, probably the last City in California to have one. Yikes !! Not a record we should be proud of. We all have to remember it is a fluid document that can be changed and modified as needed. Hopefully this year the Council can approve one by July 1, like we are supposed to. Even the State had a budget in place.
Here's a thought to ponder;
"Say what you mean and mean what you say, but just don"t be mean when you say it". Know anyone like that ??
Stay in touch.
Randy
