From our weekly issue dated October 08, 2008

It’s said that time flies, and I have no idea how to pursue that thought except to note that time spelled backward is “emit.” Fascinating. And flies in reverse spells “seilf,” which has no meaning. I hope that you have time for this.

Where is this going? Don’t know, but give it time. Maybe I could relate “time” to times past. Ah, there we go. This thought was precipitated last week while I was buying a bagel, but I can’t remember why. I mean, I know why I was buying a bagel; I just can’t recall where the thought about time came from. And that’s why timing is so important.

One of the times I remember, and which I’ve possibly related previously, is from a time when I was around the age of 18. So if you’re heard this story, stop reading. Anyway, I had a real early morning delivery route aboard North Island Naval Air Station next to Coronado. Because of the need for early times (for filling vending machines, not drinking Early Times) my Canteen Service van was often the only vehicle aboard a San Diego-Coronado ferry. (I will not bring up this circumstance in any future columns.)

During a foggy time, weather-wise, I had the untimely experience of having to drive out near the southwest edge of North Island to fill a pastry machine in one of the line shacks. It was a real spooky time, and I was nervous not only because of the time, but because of the fog, the stillness and the dark. There I was stuffing pastries into the machine, when suddenly I realized that someone was behind me. The hair on my head (I had hair then) stood up, my heart pounded, and as I turned to the intruder, the someone spoke, which caused me to yelp and throw pastries all over the floor. The voice, which belonged to a U.S. Marine sentry, said, “Could I please buy a cinnamon roll?” Boy, that was some time.

Being up that early causes a certain blurring of the eyeballs. One aspect is that darkness hides much, and shadows and odd lighting alter appearances. So I found on the route, and one I had years later for the Los Angeles Times, that buildings, shrubbery and other landmarks look different depending on the time. Yeah, really. This means that finding a place at 11 a.m. vs. locating the same spot at 5:30 a.m. can be a problem. Being timely can be difficult.

But I managed because of keeping track of time. It just takes time to be on time. And now it’s time to end this. About time.

But wait, just in time I received a phone call from Canada last week. I was advised that the Crime Story episode for which I was interviewed earlier this year will be shown soon. As for the time, I’m not sure because I looked up A&E and found several times. So whenever it’s shown, that’ll be the time in good time.

Maybe in time-honored tradition I need a time out to have a good time. I am marking time on my own time though, but I am not paid double time. Well, that’s it for the time being.