The Bonfires Of Delinquincy

   There was a time when it was customary for my circle of friends and acquaintances to gather around one of the 12" tall, five feet in diameter (I think - could've been six feet), concrete rings that were distributed along the three miles of beach that stretched from the Crystal pier to the South Mission Bay jetty (basically, the Pacific Beach/Mission Beach shoreline) in San Diego.

   We never went bayside, or to La Jolla or any of the North County Beaches, or OB. Well, maybe once or twice to Crown Point because a picnic or party had been planned, but for the most part it was either PB or MB. When we were kids we would get taken to IB or the Silver Strand, much closer to where we all lived in Southeast San Diego (now known as North Bay Heights, though the area is only north of Mexico, is about 20 miles from the bay, and is hilly but has no real heights - though there are a few places that soar to 900 feet above sea level, at the most the area is generally about 400 feet above sea level), but for whatever reason we never went back there as adults.

   *Ahem* I digress. The concrete rings were provided by the city for the enjoyment of the community, because, c'mon, who doesn't enjoy a good bonfire?

   Back then we'd gather up a good number of pallets and, after busting them up a little so they would fit inside the concrete firepit, stacked them in a makeshift pyramid formation and lit it all up (or just threw them in a helter skelter stack atop one another, and flame on!).

   Standing around the fire with friends, drinking cheap beer and listening to whatever music was available (it was the days of the boombox and the mix tape) was a great (inexpensive) way to socialize - it was not unusual for a stranger or two to saunter over and join in, half-rack of beer in hand. Heck, occasionally someone would even show up with a full cooler.

   The last time I was in San Diego I visited the beach and I was struck by all the regulations posted everywhere about use of the firepits - fires must now be in city provided fire rings only (none of those metal firepits or chiminea's or repurposed industrial barrels-made-into-burn-barrels can be brought onto the beach), fires must be extinguished by midnight (or even 10:00 in some areas), beers or adult beverages of any sort, even those that can be discreetly concealed by keeping them wrapped in a small brown paper bag are prohibited, and only clean wood, paper, or charcoal that does not exceed the height of the fire ring by more than 12" can be burned - no more pallets or garbage wood (such as, say, a discarded sofa).

   Well, I guess that's all good - after all, it would be horribly irresponsible for a government that allows people to own assault rifles* to allow those same people to stand around a firepit past midnight on a beach enjoying a cold beer with friends.

*Note, generally l am not in favor of restrictive gun control laws, but I am for sane, rational gun control laws. No one needs an assault rifle to take down Bambi.

**Yep, you're right, I am not a gun owner myself, how would I know anything about the joy of owning an assault rifle?