I survived Walnut Creek, CA during the early and late 70s

It's true I did survive this town in that decade.

I remember going grocery shopping with my mother at the Safeway that used to be located where Chase Bank now is on South Main Street. And, I remember looking for clothes at Capwell's and Joseph Magnin. Actually, my favorite store of all was the Woolworth's in Broadway Plaza, back when there was a parking lot where California Pizza Kitchen now is.

But I didn't just get the idea

to write about growing up in Walnut Creek in the 1970s. I recently became a member of a Facebook page with just that name, I survived Walnut Creek, CA during the early and late 70s.

There, members are sharing photos and memories, like this one above of then-Present Gerald Ford visiting Walnut Creek in May 1976. Or this one of the Safeway my mom and I used to shop at on Saturdays. I loved going grocery shopping with my mother.

Some other choice comments have to do with top party spots in Walnut Creek. Hmm, I didn't know about any of these: "The dugouts at the Civic Park softball field, the bus stop at Lakewood, Rudgear Park, behnd Lippert's, behind Pinky's. Ahhh, the list is endless," wrote

one person commenting.

And, yes, I have a memory of getting out of school to go downtown and see President Ford speak.

Warning to gals who use public places, like Safeway's check-out lines, for their personal confessionals: Others will be listening in

It's true. I have no shame. If people are talking loudly in public about their personal problems--whether to a another human being who is present or to someone on their cell phone--I'll listen in. 

Will you?

Maybe I'm obnoxiously nosy. Oh, wait! I'm a writer! And, I'm gathering bits and pieces of true-life human drama to, uh, put into my trashy new novel, which has the working title: Peyton Place 2010: Walnut Creek.

My latest eavesdropping on a personal confessional occurred Sunday night. But, as with all these situations, my eavesdropping, I swear, was totally unvoluntary.

After I went to the emergency room for gashing my thumb with a potato peeler, I stopped in at Safeway in downtown Walnut Creek to pick up some Motrin. I wound up in line behind two artsy young women who looked like they were on their way to a party. They were dressed up and buying beer and party snacks.  

One of the women was striking, with long, wavy dark hair and big brown Penelope Cruz eyes. She was dressed in a silky turquoise jacket and brightly patterned skirt, shining with tiny mirror tiles--very unusual but pretty. This Penelope Cruz look-alike was with her friend, who was, to be blunt, more plain, dressed in a dark somber suit.

The Plain Jane was playing the role of the less glamorous sidekick, listening and looking up sympathetically, as Penelope Cruz spoke in desparate, dramatic and very audible tones about her relationship woes.

I couldn't help but overhear. Neither could anyone else, including the clerk who was trying to get Penlope to focus on showing her ID for the beer. 

Penelope Cruz sounded like she was on the verge of making a big life decision, whether to stay with Him--We really love each other!--but not sure if love is enough: We just need to hold on a little longer... I'm not sure this is how I want to live the rest of my life!

At some point, I caught Plain Jane's eye, but she seemed unconcerned that I was obviously watching the two of them and listening in. She turned her attention back to Penelope Cruz, who revealed more reasons she was having a really bad day. She had just learned that she had been rejected from Berkeley--for graduate school in art--but, well, she shrugged, she still had a chance at some other schools. 

That's nice to hear.

Hate to make stereotypes about my gender, but it is usually females who have no shame about crying a river in public about their personal woes. Can you imagine men doing that? Oh, men can be loud and obnoxious and self-absorbed when out socializing in public, but it's never about their girlfriend difficulties or anything else remotely personal.  

The worst are, probably not surprisingly, teenage girls.

She's just so unfair! declaired a sulky, slouchy, faux-plantinum blond nymphette. She, too, was standing in the check-out line at Safeway, complaining to her friend about her mom not letting her go out that night. And, she went on--and on--to loudly voice other complaints.
Once when I was changing in the locker room at my gym, I got to listen to another girl in her late teens complain into her cell phone about a whole range of personal issues.

Of course, I listen--even though, in some cases, as with the squawking-voiced girl in  the locker room-- the confessional ceases to be entertaining and starts to become annoying.

Maybe I have no morals or decency by eavesdropping. Then again, if people are going to talk loudly and fill the air of grocery store lines, locker rooms, and restaurant dining rooms,with their personal dramas, well, they don't deserve their privacy.