From the Archive
  Tuesday, October 01, 2002

If you’ve ever wanted to know what resigned dutifulness looks like (and it’s not something we see very often, you must admit) you would have liked to have been with me this afternoon. As I was passing the cop shop, just at the start of rush hour(s) I saw somebody getting towed. Now, no biggie, you think, that happens all the time, all over town. Three PM sharp they start picking up cars and too bad for the owners. Happens all the time. Sure, but to a cop?

Yes indeedy, there, on Cordova, right in front of the Police Station, was a big beefy cop of the wholesomely mustachioed variety, dutifully-resignedly watching his patrol car get towed. And ticketed. And he just stood there and took it; what else could he do? But his mustache was a couple of inches shorter by the time the towtruck driver drove away.