MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Foundation Golf Classic

cities, earned two degrees from Cal State Fullerton, ended one marriage, and started another that has lasted more than 23 years.

When Michael and I were dating, we “got hitched” at Knott’s Berry Farm. During the brief Wild West ceremony, I vowed to darn Michael’s socks and he promised to hand over his weekly paycheck. I still have the souvenir nail ring nestled in my jewelry box.

THE NOVEL TOSTADA WAS AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY AND IN JUST ONE WEST COAST LOCATION. HELLO, IRVINE! (TACO BELL HEADQUARTERS, AFTER ALL.)

“WE SHOULD LEAVE EARLY TO

avoid the rush,” Michael suggested about the giant tostada lunch excursion. Good idea. News of an enormous orange cracker descending on O.C. had received national exposure, including the late-night circuit, and I didn’t want the dish to sell out before we got there. Which was exactly what I thought had happened when we arrived to a mostly empty parking lot. Why, oh, why had I thought I could catch a reality break when I couldn’t even go to the grocery store these days without seeing signs of strife in our fair county? Vaccine protests in front of medical clinics. Disapproving looks from strangers when I opted to wear a mask indoors. Political pop-up stands sporting enough f-bombs on their signage to make a Caltrans crew blush. Same goes for the T-shirts on display (avert your eyes, kids), advertised to be “one size fits all” in an ironic claim of inclusiveness.

“Come on in,” Michael said, holding the door open for me. We quickstepped it over to the self-service screens. Being a tech guy, he found the prize tostada first, under Specialty Menu Items. Not sold out after all—yay!

“Everything on it?” he asked, tapping in our orders.

“Absolutely—except jalapenos, of course. And a small Diet Coke.”

Ten minutes later, we collected our calorie fest at the counter. The verdict? Guiltily delicious as charged—although not nearly as mammoth as all the hype would have us believe, measuring only slightly larger than the size of my palm.

Still, mission accomplished. I climbed back into the truck, happily anticipating a nap. Then I saw the spinning-sign guy. He was holding one of those cardboard signs, but what grabbed my attention was its design to look like a giant handgun. In fact, the word GUNS was printed in large block letters across the barrel. He stra-

PROMOTION

O.C. Scene PEOPLE | PARTIES | EVENTS | OPENINGS

MEMORIALCARE SADDLEBACK MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC

Golfers with big hearts teed off in August for a great cause at our Golf Classic, presented by Team Alvarez Insurance Services. The event, held at Aliso Viejo Country Club, raised $101,000 for Heart Health Initiatives at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center. Highlights included a bloody mary bar and hot wings on the course, plus fun contest holes. Funds raised will help purchase electrophysiology equipment for diagnosis of cardiac issues, support heart attack and stroke prevention education, and provide our patient navigators. Thank you to all of our sponsors, including Champion Sponsors EPM and MemorialCare Medical Group/Greater Newport Physicians, for their support.

Photo Credit: Chris Trela

tegically pointed it this way and that, catching people’s attention at the busy intersection.

I stared in disbelief. “Is that allowed?”

“It’s legal,” Michael said. “Although I don’t agree with it.”

“But the Laguna Woods shooting happened just a few weeks ago,” I pointed out. “The church isn’t even that far away.”

I searched the area while the light was still red and spotted the gun shop in a nearby strip mall. Its glass front and bright interior lights made it easy to see what looked like a long line of rifles propped against two walls.

I suddenly felt sick, and it had nothing to do with my poor food choices.

I got out of the truck and headed over to confront the corner guy, insisting he take his stupid gun-shaped sign and leave right this instant!

At least, that’s what I wish I’d done. Unfortunately, or perhaps not, I’m an avid pacifist, more prone to smoothing things over than stirring things up. So I stewed about it instead, trying through several sleepless nights to solve all the county’s problems from my little corner of it.

But here’s the thing about obsession: It brings focus. In the end, I wrote my own bold memo and bulleted list of things I can do to make a di erence:  Vote  Volunteer  Make a voodoo doll of Rudy Giuliani (kidding … kind of)  Phone a representative  Floss more

Because if the Big Cheez-It Tostada teaches us nothing else, it’s that our very di erences are the magic beans to making something new and unique— something that generates good news instead of bad.

Working together, we can make Orange County a groovy place to live. A one-size-fits-all paradise where everyone is welcome and the sunsets are free.

After all, someone waiting for their first hot kiss on the cool O.C. sand is counting on us.

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