THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510130212
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 115 lines
Saturday, Sept. 30
7:30 p.m. - Oceanfront hotel dining room.
Two middle-aged couples accompanied by a thirtysomething woman carrying an infant in a baby seat join the other, mostly well-dressed, middle-age, patrons in the candle-lit restaurant.
While waiting for their food, the mother lays a small blanket on the floor next to her table and changes the baby's diaper in sight of the adjoining tables.
Finished with that task, the mother sits back down, picks the baby up, pulls a bare breast from under her shirt and begins nursing the child, also in view of all the diners.
The blanket, which could have provided a bit of privacy, still lies on the floor next to her chair.
Two women at a nearby table, who say they both breast fed their own children and are strong advocates for others who do, exchange glances, roll their eyes slightly and continue with their meals.
``It's women like that who make it difficult for others who want to take their babies with them when they go out,'' one says to the other after the five adults and the baby leave the restaurant.
``Especially the diaper bit,'' the other responds, ``and more especially when this restaurant has such a nice changing area in the ladies' room.
- Jo-Ann Clegg
Sunday, Oct. 1
3:40 p.m. - A Boardwalk cafe.
Four customers belly up to the bar as TVs all around the room blast the NFL. Ignoring football, the four strangers strike up a conversation on the bartenders' service.
One points out ``watch this'' and he shouts out his order several times. The men behind the bar glare at him.
A woman chimes in, saying: ``I used to work here. Good luck on getting anything from these guys.''
After a final attempt, three of the thirsty patrons opt to take their business to a ``beer-drinker friendly establishment!''
- David B. Hollingsworth
Tuesday, Oct. 3
12:10 p.m. - Somewhere in Virginia Beach.
A wrong number is mistakenly dialed and an answering machine answers. It's definitely not the department store the caller was trying to reach.
``You've reached the home of one old grouch and one beautiful person,'' the pleasant voice says.
- Debbie Messina
Tuesday, Oct. 3
2 p.m. - A fast-food franchise on Haygood Road.
A middle-aged man enters the restaurant and walks up to the young woman at the cash register.
``Good afternoon, sir, what would you like today?'' asks the clerk in her perkiest customer-service voice.
The man grins and says, ``I'd like to be 25 again and win the lottery.''
``Sorry, sir, can't help you with that,'' she responds, without missing a beat. She points out the special deals and awaits his order.
``Well, I guess I'll have a couple of cheeseburgers, large fries and a Coke.''
She takes his money, makes change. And wishes him luck with the lottery.
- Gary Edwards
Thursday, Oct. 5
7 p.m. - Columbus Street and Independence Boulevard.
A Volvo sitting at the traffic light sports this bumper sticker:
``If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.''
- Kevin Armstrong
Sunday, Oct. 8
Noon - Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
It's the Sunday for blessing animals and the church is packed with adults, youngsters and an assortment of dogs, cats, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets and snakes.
A horse stands patiently outside, waiting to put its head through the window to receive its annual blessing.
Although the service has gone smoothly, a handful of children and animals become impatient as it draws to a close.
A few babies cry, a cat screeches and a couple of dogs offer competing barks.
Minister of Music Bob Sullivan quickly restores order with his own tried and true tranquilizer.
He moves smoothly into an oh-so-gentle version of ``Brahms Lullaby'' on the church organ, just as he does on any other Sunday when there's a fussy baby in the congregation.
The shrieking cat settles back in her carrier, the barks and cries stop and the service comes to a peaceful, if joyful, end.
- Jo-Ann Clegg
Monday, Oct. 9
1:25 p.m. - Virginia Wesleyan College.
Two friends chat about their weekend.
One tells the other she spent Saturday in the pouring rain volunteering with hundreds of youngsters at a children's festival at Waterside.
``Anyone who is thinking about having kids should do what I did Saturday,'' she adds. ``It's perfect birth control.''
- Holly Wester ILLUSTRATION: Angels falling among us
Marcy Sims, chairperson of the Virginia Beach 1995 United Way
campaign, dangles 112-feet above the crowd as she hitches a ride on
a crane with master firefighter Gary H. Newton of the Virginia Urban
Search and Rescue Team II. Sims, dressed as an angel, was thankful
to be back on the ground for the kickoff Thursday to the ``Angels
Among Us'' campaign.
Staff photos by
DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
by CNB