THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 14, 1994 TAG: 9408120219
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 141 lines
A dark-haired young man, who has just pulled his gray Nissan on to the expressway, can't get out of the shoulder lane. The afternoon traffic is thick and motorists are not showing sympathy to the aggravated young driver.
He's hanging out the window, flashing a pleading frown to passers-by. A sticker on his back windshield reflects his feelings: Mean people suck.
- Holly Wester 2:30 p.m. - Rosemont Road.
Bumper stickers spotted on the back fender of a yellow and beige two-tone Ford Truck: If you must drink and drive, drink Coke. Friends don't let friends drive Chevys.
- Pam Starr 11 p.m. - Kempsville Lake.
A young man with thick black hair and stubble from a goatee talks on the phone with his fiancee. In between discussions of jobs and relationships, they also philosophize about some of life's finer points.
``You know the hokey pokey,'' he asks.
`Yeah . . . ,'' the woman responds, starting to laugh.
``Well, I know how to put my arms and legs in and out, how to shake them all about and so forth. And I know how to turn myself about. But what are you really supposed to do when they sing ` . . . you do the hokey pokey . . . ?' What part of the dance is considered the hokey pokey?''
``I guess some people keep shaking their body parts, and some start turning about during that line so they'll be all the way around when you get to ` . .
``I dunno,'' the man says thoughtfully. ``Maybe during those words you're just supposed to bounce or something.''
- Larry W. Brown WEDNESDAY, AUG. 3 2 p.m. - Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles office, Mustang Trail.
The balding man behind the counter is photographing prospective license holders with an electronic camera.
Seated before him, in an uncomfortable wooden chair, is a nervous, 40-ish woman who is having her driver's license renewed.
``Look up here and smile,'' the cameraman intones. And, as the woman smiles widely, a light flashes.
``OK. That'll do it,'' the man says and begins scanning the instant results on a computer screen before him.
His eyes widen and he beckons to the woman. ``Uh, ma'am,'' he sputters. ``Take a look at this. Uh, you might want to have another one taken.''
The woman leans over the counter, views the electronic photo, then summons her husband for a lengthy conference.
Eventually they decide to go with the existing photo, distasteful as it may be, and avoid extending the agony of license renewal.
- Bill Reed 8:45 p.m. - Cinema Cafe.
During the last showing of the movie ``When a Man Loves a Woman,'' a young woman leaves her theater to go to the ladies room. When she comes out however, one of the employees is on a ladder, changing the boards above the theaters, and the lost lady doesn't see her movie anywhere.
``Ummmm . . . can you tell me which one is `When a Man Loves a Woman?' '' she asks the woman on the ladder.
``It's this one,'' she says, pointing to the theater that is now labeled ``Jurassic Park.''
``I didn't mean to confuse you by changing the signs,'' the employee continues, giggling. ``I'm just doing my job!''
- Holly Wester THURSDAY, AUG. 4 5:30 p.m. - Bonney Road.
A long line of traffic is backed up in the right lane of Bonney Road as people wait in line to make a right turn onto Rosemont Road. A car in the left lane cruises past the stopped traffic. Then, near the front of the line, it cuts in between two cars in the right lane.
The license plate? EGOIST.
- Melinda Forbes 7 p.m. - Central Library.
A little boy, who looks to be 6 or 7, struggles with the heavy auditorium door, pokes his head around and peeks inside. His eyes widen and his jaw drops.
Inside he sees something similar to a lecture hall, with a couple hundred seats sloping toward a stage area and an audio-visual screen. About 50 people are gathered here for a public hearing on the city's proposed Outdoors Plan.
``Do we have to go in here,'' he asks his father, who is holding the hand of a young girl, about 4.
``Yes, we do,'' dad replies. ``This is what college is going to be like.''
- Debbie Messina FRIDAY, AUG. 6 11 p.m. - Jewish Mother.
Two women, sipping on steaming cups of coffee, jam out to the local rhythm and blues band on stage.
They are sitting at a small table right next to the stage, so their conversation is a mix of yelling and repeating.
During a Texas blues number, the two raise their white mugs and toast.
``Good coffee, good music, good friends,'' says the older lady, before taking a sip.
``And no men!,'' her young, friend says, finishing the toast.
- Holly Wester SUNDAY, AUG. 7 4:30 p.m. - The beach at 84th Street.
A woman carrying two flat blue boxes appears on the dune. At the bottom she scans the beach, obviously looking for someone.
A man detaches himself from a crowd of volleyball players and runs up to her.
An exchange takes place - he hands her something and she gives him the two big boxes.
He then runs back to his friends who immediately crowd around to enjoy fresh, hot pizza.
- Melinda Forbes TUESDAY, AUG. 9 11:30 p.m. - A Thalia neighborhood.
A young boy leaves a note for his mother.
``Dear Mom, My tooth came out and I put it uder my pillow. I want you to call the tooth fairy at this number - 340- . . . . My friend said, `That is the right number.' ''
- Lori A. Denney ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
NOW THAT'S SERVICE
James Douglas soaps down a vehicle while Mark Johnson, with hose,
and David Abraham rinse a car before it gets to the drive-thru
window at a Taco Bell on First Colonial Road. If you wanted a
carwash with your taco, the Virginia Beach Healthcare and
Rehabilitation Center staff members and residents of the Camelot
Hall facility had just the answer for water-restricted customers in
Virginia Beach. The groups were trying to raise money for the
Alzheimer's Association. Donations were requested but not required.
by CNB