When we checked into our condo in Sun Valley, a person came over to our car, welcomed us, asked us if we needed any help, gave us instructions on where to park, etc. Couldn't have been nicer. (Ditto for the clerk at our motel in Boise.)


My wife said to me, "What was that?" I answered, "That was a person. We don't have many in L.A. We have a-holes."


Having grown up in N.Y. and lived all my adult life in L.A., I am momentarily stunned, as my wife was, when we meet people from more of a small town environment. They're just plain nicer.


There was a famous incident many years ago where a disgruntled looser shot through the windows of a card club in Gardena. The security solution then was to do away with windows in the clubs.