From the archives

Personal stories from 30 years ago

Staying the night at rescue mission, jumping from S.D. tall buildings, crazy friend, marrying for joke, Zen Buddhists, suddenly rich

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Nick DiGiovanni: "You don’t make many jumps in downtown San Diego without flying your canopy over a police car at least once." (Robert Burroughs)
As I approached St. Vincent de Paul, I passed huddled groups of men and women smoking rock cocaine in doorways. (Joe Klein)

Gimme shelter: all this for a cot and a meal

Someone wrapped a newspaper around one ceiling light fixture to dim the glare. I took a top bunk. Removed my hat and sneakers, otherwise stretched out fully clothed. No pillow. I stole one from the bunk below. Read Cain's Book, story about a junkie in the late '50s living in a houseboat on the Hudson in New York. Why did I bring this book?

By John Brizzolara, Jan. 30, 1992 Read full article

Landing on Harbor Drive. High tension electrical lines and the San Diego Trolley’s power lines crisscross the area. (Robert Burroughs)

They jump at night

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Over by the convention center stand the new twin towers of Harbor One. I had the pleasure of being the first to jump from both towers, a distinction that forever makes me Harbor One Number One. The guards there were a little more observant, and even doing it alone, I still had to try three different nights before I got in.

By Nick DiGiovanni, Feb. 20, 1992 Read full article

Just over the edge

The first time he ever said anything to me about putting the Union-Tribune Publishing Company out of business, I assumed he was joking. But the sentiment recurred frequently in his conversation, until it was a leitmotif. He pointed out that we could erect news racks throughout the city next to those of the U-T to enhance competition.

By Mark Orwoll, Feb. 11, 1982 Read full article

We were married by a sweet little lady who gave us a quiet, short talk. I did feel a little guilty at that point; I thought her speech was pretty. (Craig Carlson)

You may now kiss the bride

Why don’t you two guys get married?’ — meaning Fitz and me — ‘and then with that, you, Fitz, can get a work permit to stay in the States and — here’s the deal — you pay for Darlene to come see me in Hawaii. That’s what she gets out of it. It’ll be like her honeymoon, only she’ll take it with me instead of you.’ Everybody laughed. It was a joke for the rest of the evening."

By joe Applegate, April 29, 1982 Read full article

Allan Kaprow: "Zen's growth in San Diego is parallel to San Diego’s growth." (Craig Carlson)

What is the sound of two bald women brushing their hair?

The Los Angeles Zen Center had become the scene of heavy drinking and sexual permissiveness that had gotten out of hand, despite the fact that the roshi Maezumi was married (to an American woman) and was the father of three young children. Turmoil began to drive residents away.

By Sue Garson, March 22, 1984 Read full article

They have lost at least five friends in disputes over money in the last two years, “not because we didn’t lend them money, but because we did lend them money.” (Jim Coit)

White tablecloth, blue collar

Soon, however, Charles and Rene were able to buy a small house on Dwight Street in North Park for $41,000. Wages for union welders had gone up to nearly twenty dollars an hour, and Charles had obtained a steady job on the Coronado Bridge, putting up a permanent painters’ scaffold

By Gordon Smith, Sept. 23, 1982 Read full article

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