The End

IT ALL STARTED about fifty years ago, when the movie industry came to California and brought a crew of undesirables along with it. The directors eventually fled to Italy, but the industry's gooey sludge hung around long enough to smile its way into political power and saddle the state with Ronnie and George.

Nature got her licks in too. There were fires and floods and freezes this year, not to mention all the talk about the Earthquake. The Earthquake has missed fifteen scheduled appearances so far, but God has decided to kill the Golden State in a slower and more appalling way. Helicopters and buckshot in the north, and a re-run of Sam Yorty in the south.

Memories of warmer days have nursed many of us through February nights in New England. But we can never go home again.