Remember When: Lessie Poo / Spilled Load

Lessie Poo 

This next Remember When needs a little background. In the Spring of 1970, our son had reached the age that Elaine felt comfortable with him on the back of her bike. Bikes, something we purchased together with our first Tax Refund check in 1968. Two Schwinn Super Sports. Elaine finally let hers go in 2020. It went where we went until the move to PA. Rest assured, she has kept and treasures the memories to this day. Today that check would probably pay for the tires.

 I was working for Guardian Fence Company in Long Beach, CA. We lived about 2.5 miles from the company’s construction yard and offices. We only had one vehicle at the time and on good days I would ride my bike to work and leave the Austin Healy with Elaine. On this day I peddled to work and that afternoon Elaine decided to take the boy for a ride. She went by the yard to say hello, but I was out on a job site. My bike was parked in the welding shop next to the Employee Break Area. When I returned to the yard and went into the shop my “peers” were all standing around my bike, having a good laugh at whatever. For clarity “peers” is a loosely used term. Several, okay most, were considerably taller and carried themselves on much larger frames than me. There was more than a couple that could shoulder a 50’ roll of 6’ chain link fence, (105 pounds) then pick up another roll with the free hand and carry them where they needed to be dropped and rolled out. It was like working with forklifts.

With my curiosity at an all time high I went over to see what the laugh was. Elaine had left a note. In plain view I might add, “Lessie Poo” stopped by to see you, sorry I missed you.” She might as well have sent the note to the Long Beach Press Telegram for the evening edition headlines. Lessie Poo stuck. At Guardian the construction trucks were equipped with two-way radios. Each employee had a Call Sign. Unit 1 through the junior most employee…at the time I was Unit 17. Until the day after Elaine’s visit. Unit Lessie Poo become the norm. I was with Guardian for five years, The “handle” has stayed with me since.

 You are now up to date.

 Remember When: Spilled Load 

 It was early Sunday Morning on the I-10 Santa Monica Freeway. There was very light traffic and was moving at a steady speed. So, while patrolling and enjoying the ride the Officer was dismayed as he observed slowing traffic ahead and a tremendous amount of debris being cast into the wind by the vehicles passing through the debris. As he approached the debris, now scattered over all five lanes of the roadway, he slowed and positioned himself and his motorcycle to provide some warning to the oncoming traffic of the hazard.

“LA 15-60 Mary. I’m 97 E/B 10 W/of La Brea with debris in all lanes.”

“15-60 Mary, LA., 10-4.”

“LA, 60 Mary. I’ll need Cal Trans for clean-up and several units to run traffic breaks”

“15-60 Mary, 10-4. Can you determine what the debris is and lanes affected to pass on to Cal Trans?”

“LA, 60 Mary, not sure yet, but there are some torn up cardboard boxes that have been hit and their contents scattered in all lanes. Stand by I’ll get one of the boxes.”

“60 Mary, LA standing by.”

“Los Angeles, 15-60 Mary. Be advised the cartons read, using every ounce of professionalism he could muster, “Single Breast Form Foam Fake Boob – Large.”

Looooooooooooooooong Pause...

“15-60 Mary is advising-giggles-he needs traffic breaks-giggles-E/B 10 beginning from La Cienega for a spilled load of ‘falsies'…giggles-another pause-another giggle-…west of La Brea.

Another long pause, some open mike chuckles one inappropriate and unidentifiable "Do they feel real?" comment then more laughs from units and dispatch.

Almost holding back her laugh, and doing the best she could, “All units responding please advise L.A.”

Total silence…

“Lessie Poo, be advised once they stop laughing and regain composure they’ll be on their way.” “Thanks for making our Sunday morning, 15-60 Mary, Los Angeles, Signal 10-11.” (FCC Frequency Identifier.)

“Los Angeles, 15-60 Mary, my pleasure. Los Angeles, 15-60 Mary, Signal 10-11, KA4993.”

 Just another day where the rubber meets the road. Pun intended.