Nothing to do you say?
Imagine a couple of teenagers sitting on a wall along Beach
Street in Santa Cruz, idly comparing one another’s multiple
piercings.
Rides hum and people scream with joy to their left. An enormous
beach covered in broiling women wrapped in the least amount of
fabric decency permits are spread in front of them. The white curls
of Steamer’s Lane
– a world-famous temple to surfing – are glimpsed through the
pilings of a pier packed with restaurants and diversions. A block
behind them is a bowling alley.
”
Whaddaya wanna do?
”
one asks.
Nothing to do you say?
Imagine a couple of teenagers sitting on a wall along Beach Street in Santa Cruz, idly comparing one another’s multiple piercings.
Rides hum and people scream with joy to their left. An enormous beach covered in broiling women wrapped in the least amount of fabric decency permits are spread in front of them. The white curls of Steamer’s Lane – a world-famous temple to surfing – are glimpsed through the pilings of a pier packed with restaurants and diversions. A block behind them is a bowling alley.
“Whaddaya wanna do?” one asks.
“I dunno. There’s never anything to do around here,” is the moaning reply.
Dare we say it? Crushing boredom is part of the adolescent experience. We’d bet a large number of M&Ms that that exchange is repeated almost daily at that very location.
How many parents have wondered how to respond to a kid who looks at them across a room filled with a stereo, drum kit, television, personal computer and a stack of books and magazines and says, “I’m bored”?
Now San Benito County is not Santa Cruz. (You can tell right away because there’s no ocean here.) And we owe it to our kids to give them lots and lots of healthy outlets to choose from. But nothing to do?
T’aint so.
That was brought home last Friday night. As we headed back to the homestead after enjoying ourselves immensely at Mickie Luna’s retirement dinner (more on that below) we entered the parking lot at Hollister’s answer to Santana Row – Target.
Cars in the mostly empty lot were clustered around the mega-store’s entrance, leaving several acres of empty asphalt stretching back from Airline Highway.
But it wasn’t quite empty. About 25 teenagers charged around. They were taking advantage of the abundant lighting to play a hard-charging game of ultimate Frisbee, a game kind of akin to soccer or rugby, but even hipper.
Nothing to do? Don’t tell them. They were inventing their own fun.
Schools are the front lines in Something to Do. From the Chess Club at Sacred Heart to dozens of organizations at San Benito High School (athletics, student government, Guitar Club/Drama Club/FFA/Shakespeare/lather, rinse, repeat over and over) schools offer something for even the most jaded kid.
But think about it; the city recreation department, YMCA, scouts, 4-H, Hollister Heat, Little League, LULAC Youth. Is it getting clear.
If organized fun is not part of the game, a few bucks will buy a movie ticket, and since Hollister is no longer a one-screen town, the choices are abundant.
A few years ago, I watched a clump of kids loitering and smoking outside the now-closed espresso bar at Fifth and San Benito, and commented to Y’s executive director, Lou Bettencourt, that it was awful that the kids had nothing to do.
“Why?” he asked. “They are doing something. They’re not causing trouble. Hanging out and drinking coffee is an activity.”
Well, duh. San Benito County is going to miss Bettencourt as he retires into the deserts of the Southwest, but I’ll always carry his observation with me.
For those who don’t have the price of a cup of latte, the skate park is free. Cycling backroads costs nothing but a little sweat. Tennis and basketball courts are there for the using.
And there’s always Friday night with a Frisbee in the Target parking lot.
Aye chee waa waa
With a nod to Bob Valenzuela, aye chee waa waa, that was a party!
Mickie Luna retired from the city of Hollister’s finance department last week, and the event was made official with a little gathering of more than 200 at San Juan Oaks Friday night.
The room was packed with co-workers and friends, along with a healthy number of kids, many of whom know Mickie for her work with the Mexican American Committee on Education and the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Plaques were awarded. Speakers lined up. The emcee was Cesar Chavez’ son-in-law. One of the famous revolutionary Pancho Villa’s sons showed up to speak. Assemblywoman Anna Caballero was on the list, along with Luna’s brother, sons and daughter.
Sounds trite, but you could feel the love.
Then, when the speeches ended, you could feel the music, as the sound system began thumping and people hit the dance floor.
It may have been the good-bye to end all good-byes.
Notebook is compiled by Mark Paxton with contributions from other Pinnacle staff members as noted. Paxton’s e-mail address is mp*****@**********ws.com.
