He and she are friends, college students drinking together in his dorm room. He drinks a beer. She drinks a beer. Then another. And one more. Alcohol usually becomes a factor. Fueled by the alcohol, he tries to kiss her. She says no. He says yes. But he doesn’t stop with just a kiss. SuddenlyContinue reading “The First 30 Days”
Author Archives: Dave Congalton
The Sounds of Silence
Somewhere beneath my feet, and the high grass, and the silt, was the spot. They had all come here before me. All had stood on this very spot. Somewhere in this immediate area. Bob Hope. Bing Crosby. Rudy Vallee. George Burns and Gracie Allen. The Babe. Harpo Marx. I wish I could tell you thatContinue reading “The Sounds of Silence”
In the Valley of Elijah
Jerry Lenthall is tall; Adam Hill is not, easily allowing one to cast the upcoming June election for District 3 county supervisor as a classic David and.Goliath struggle. Lenthall, the incumbent, did not taunt potential opponents daily like Goliath, but his large frame, law enforcement background, and well-financed war chest sent an imposing message toContinue reading “In the Valley of Elijah”
It Was a Very Good Year
I glanced at the calendar the other day and realized that 2007 marks 20 years since I first arrived in San Luis Obispo. Now I realize that for many of you old-timers, 20 years is nothing, a mere ripple, a minor footnote, but I’ve never lived anywhere for that amount of time and it gaveContinue reading “It Was a Very Good Year”
A Voice Out of the Past
If you remember listening to Russ James on local radio, chances are you’re older than me. Before Bill Benica, Captain Buffoon, Peterson (Pause) and the News, Danny Clarkson, or Mac the Scotch Hillbilly, there was the lanky Texas native with the velvet voice who was morning radio in this town for eleven years. Those were theContinue reading “A Voice Out of the Past”
Bookselling Blues
I spent part of last weekend up in San Jose, visiting old friends. They took me out for great Chinese food and asked if there was anything in particular I wanted to do. I shrugged. Maybe a movie. Or how about a bookstore? They laughed, reminding me that this was San Jose, meaning my choiceContinue reading “Bookselling Blues”
One From the Heart
Ellie Edwards, a fortysomething massage therapist in Avila Beach, recently took an English class out at Cuesta to brush up on her creative writing skills. Little did she realize how one assignment would change her life. For her final paper, Ellie decided to write about altruistic organ donation and her research took her to matchingdonors.com.Continue reading “One From the Heart”
The Little Store That Could
True story. I’m standing outside the Crushed Grape the other day, having just finished lunch. Two older women walk out of the neighboring Embassy Suites and approach me. They seem very nice. They’re from Chicago, they explain. In town for a wedding. The women have a question. Is it true that there’s an Applebee’s nearby?Continue reading “The Little Store That Could”
Let Me Be Clear
The suits have been shuffling in and out of Zaca Lane for the last few months; anonymous, earnest-looking faces roaming the halls at Clear Channel Radio, trying to decide the key question. Do they want to spend $20 million to buy four San Luis Obispo radio stations and another four stations in Santa Maria? InContinue reading “Let Me Be Clear”
Dave Congalton Stories 