Remember the Gas Crisis of the 1970s?

It's FRIDAY, April 29, 2011. It's going to be breezy today, but sunny, with highs in the 6os. We are looking at a weekend in the 70s, which is not to say the 1970s, which were far different weekends than the ones we have now. With gas up well past $4 a gallon, it's easy to think we're near a crisis, and we may well be, if things in the Middle East and North Africa continue toward chaos. But in the 1970s we had a true gas crisis, when the major Middle Eastern oil producing countries known as OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) decided to cap the amount of oil they produced and caused a gas shortage here. This led to gas lines, and certain days when people could buy gas. It was insane, if you're used to cheap, available gas whenever you want it. There were near riots at some stations, as Americans - unused to long lines for something as primary to the American experience as gasoline for their car - sometimes freaked out and jumped ahead of others in line. This happened to me several times, and once my then-wife Jeanne got out of the car with a clipboard in her hand, went up to the offending line-jumper and said "I'm doing a survey - do you think it's right for some people to insert themselves ahead of other people who have been waiting in a line?" The guy sheepishly rolled up his window, but he stayed in his ill-gotten place. Being conflict-averse, I stayed behind the wheel, seething but unwilling to confront a possible looney. That and disco are two of my major memories of the 1970s. It was not an easy time. Makes me grateful for the present. Speaking of which, here are five present things:

1. Tonight is the Chamber of Commerce dinner. You'll want to be here to honor these fine winners and give them their well-deserved due. And have a bite to eat, as well. It's at the Event Center on Main Street. Contact the Chamber (228-2345) for more details, but hurry. The dinner is tonight.
2. Feel like a little rockin'? Well, take in tonight at Vinnie's in Concord. This is a great little club and GR is a great band from right here in town. They're always worth a ride, even to Concord.
3. The Main Street-sponsored is tomorrow. Be sure to get your ticket and take a little vino-fueled walk down Main Street, shopping and sipping your way to Nirvana.
4. Sunday, of course, is the grand opening of the new on Main Street. The operator, Pacific Coast Farmers Market, is also the operator of the Thursday market, which celebrates its grand opening the following Thursday. Which means Martinez folks will have two opportunities a week through October to buy locally-grown fruits and vegetables very close to their homes. 
5. After the market, you might feel like a little rhythm. In that case, head down to Waterfront Park for . Join host Melody Walker and her crew and pound a little drum for some inner clarity. Or outer rhythm. Your choice.