Huckleberries: When perception comes a-callin’, consider a white lie

Reporter Jim Hagengruber and photographer Brian Plonka had a close encounter with a charter member of the Southern California Huddled Masses Yearning To Be Free recently. Seems the two Spokesman-Review staffers stopped by a small bar in Coronado, Calif., while working on the continuing saga of Matt and Robert Shipp – you know, the Hauser Lake twins who joined the Marines together in mid-June. Jim and Brian chose the bar because SEALs hang out there and for its “mean burgers.” The guy next to them was mean, too. Or at least mad. He was angry about the new airport security regs. And that a security officer had yelled at him for parking too long in front of the terminal while ignoring a car full of Arabs that did the same. As Jim and Brian munched their burgers, Angry Man ranted about legal and illegal aliens, environmental laws, America going to hell, and the Trilateral “Union” (not the commission, he insisted). At that point, Brian nudged Jim, indicating it was time to scramble. But the S-R staffers accidentally let slip that they were from Idaho. “Really,” said their unwanted companion, taking a big gulp of beer, and smiling. “I’m thinking about moving to Coeur d’Alene. I hear it’s better up there.” Choking on the last of their burgers, Jim and Brian agreed Coeur d’Alene’s a nice place to visit. But warned that there aren’t any decent jobs. It rains all the time, too. (Not to mention that North Idahoans look at prickly California immigrants the way Angry Man views foreigners.)