Ralph Story's A.M. February 1971, and beyond

I would graduate from Cal State Dominguez Hills in December of 1971.  I was still working at A.U. Morse & Company near downtown L.A.  Even before graduation, I would have to decide what to do with my life.  But at the same time, I had to deal with mandatory military service.  My draft lottery number was 119, and I was only exempt for a short time before I graduated from college.

Before graduation, in the Fall of 1971, I did enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve, to begin with training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego after graduation.  That would keep me out of service until I left college.  (I would normally have graduated in June of 1971; but two course I took at East L.A. Junior College worth 8 units did not count and I had to take additional classes to get enough units to get my degree.)

I met Mark Lombardo that fall who had returned from Marine OCS in the summer of 1971, to graduate in December and then serve as a Marine officer.  He talked me into switching from the Marine Corps Reserve to OCS in the Spring of 1972.  Marine combat units had been withdrawn from Vietnam in 1971.  By becoming a member of the Marine Corps, I would not have to serve in that costly and, ultimately, futile war.  Those I had met in college such as Daylin Butler,rimarily at East L.A., and Pay Byrne at Dominguez Hills advised that I not serve in Vietnam, both of whom had been in Vietnam with the Marines as enlistedmen.  It would be a waste of my life for no appreciable reason to go to Vietnam. 

When I was able, I would watch Ralph Story's A.M. in the mornings before classes at Dominguez Hills.  Host Ralph Story, a TV legend in LA, and his co-host Stephanie Edwards conducted a wide range of features and guests.  Authors with new books to peddle or devices such as the Velobind process of self-publishing or recipes for healthy food choices were offered each morning.  When I was fired from A.U. Morse and got a job as a security guard, I would definitely be able to watch the show in the mornings. 

All of these years later, I watch Morning Joe that offers heavy doses of politics but also other choices such as new books to buy and read.  

In 1971-3, I was making career decisions, impacted heavily by the looming military draft.  Had I not had to worry about the Vietnam War and being drafted by the Army, I might have had the freedom to think of different career directions.  Perhaps I could have remained in college, gotten a Master's Degree, graduated and found a job teaching at a community college.  I never would have attended Marine OCS or Ai Force OTS, been stationed at Minot AFB and the Air Force Academy.  Never would have moved to North Dakota or Colorado.  (After I returned from OCS, I did apply to TWA and Continental Airlines when men could then be hired as flight attendants, but I was rejected by both.)  

Now I am back, living in California after so many years away.  I'm retired, yet attempting to figure out what to do with however many years I have remaining.  I have applied to teach at our local community college but have been rejected both times.

Recurring Dream

I periodically experience a recurring dream, with variations.  I am back inside the former IBM site outside of Boulder, CO, on the Diagonal Highway.  It's time to leavefor the day, but I cannot find my way out.  No matter which direction I walk, I am unable to leave the building. 

This time, I cannot find my wallet or car keys.  After walking down stairs and finding an exit in the basement, I am able to exit the building this time but know that I have no keys (which is odd because, if I did not have them in the first place, how was I able to drive to work at the IBM site).  And, once out of the building, I also cannot find my car in the relatively empty lot.  Obviously, without car keys, how could I start my car if I fdid ind it and drive home?

I believe I may have had similar dreams, years ago, when I was forced to resign from the Air Force.  This is quite similar.  I did not want to go, hence I cannot leave.  Of course, financially this whole situation is troubling because I am poorly off monetarily because I did not have a retirement to deal with my force resignation.  In 1979 (with the Air Force) and 2023 (with IBM).

Q-Con West Hollywood June 20, 2026, 11 AM - 6 PM

                                                                                  

Prism Comics is pleased to announce their 5th Annual Q CON LGBTQIA+ COMIC CONVENTION celebrating LGBTQIA+ comic books, graphic novels and cosplay pride! 

Q CON LGBTQIA+ COMIC CONVENTION

Saturday, June 20, 2026

11 am - 6 pm

Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park

7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

Free admission

Family friendly

We’re thrilled to have a fabulous lineup of over 100 creators, cosplayers and talented performers including Richard Fairgray (Four-Color Heroes), Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer, Opting Out), Lee Knox Ostertag (The Witch Boy, The Deep Dark), Joe Phillips (animator, illustrator), ND Stevenson (Nimona, Scarlet Morning), Jen Wang (The Prince and the Dressmaker, Ash’s Cabin), Nicole Maines (Suicide Squad, Supergirl), Rex Ogle (Fruitcake, Dan of Green Gables), Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf), Josh Trujillo (Washington’s Gay General), Shannon Watters (Hollow, Lumberjanes), Jim McCann (The Other/Half), Kendra Wells (Real Hero Sh*t), Sonya Saturday (J.K. Rowling and the Ungrateful Fans), Sam Irvin (Captain Samouflage and the Frankensam Scam!), Qweerty Gamers, Jasmine Walls (Brooms) and many more. There will also be a cosplay contest, panel presentations, and portfolio review for aspiring comics creators.

Q Con is free and family friendly for all ages.

Register for free tickets - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/q-con-2026-southern-californias-only-lgbtqia-comic-convention-tickets-1980431535033

Or get free tickets at the door

Prism Comics thanks our sponsors for their generous support – Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, The City of West Hollywood, Modern Fanatic, Oni Press, Los Angeles Film School, IDW Comics & Entertainment and Top Shelf.

WonderCon 2026 March 27-29

 

For no obvious reason, our table was now on the second row back, one section over from where we were placed for the past three years straight.  (We even had a couple people stop by and say that they thought we were not here this year when they did not see us in our usual space.)  We did not get the traffic we previously got, but we actually sold more books than the past few years.

The staff allowed us early arrivers to pull into the hall itself to unload our vehicles and set up our tables (above).  Here is Mark, standing proudly before our new VW ID-4.  It was technically a used vehicle from 2021; however, it had but 53 miles on it when we bought it just a few days before and paid less than half what a new ID-4 cost  This was our first long trip.  We decided on the second day to Valet park it because they would charge it while they kept it.  They might have tried to charge it, but when the Con was over and we loaded it up for the drive back home, iD-4 was only at the same charge as it was when we turned it over to them.  I wanted to get out of town, so we took off without complaining and stopped East of Riverside to recharge at a Wallmart station. 

                                                                               

The ride was smooth both ways, and we fell in love with the vehicle, especially since Trump's Iran war caused the price of gas to skyrocket.  It was a new feeling to not even think about stopping for gas at a gas station.

                                                                                   

Here was one view from behind our table.  But the direct line points to the fellow from Arizona who had the table beside us for the previous three years.  
                                                                                   

We had a fellow and a female friend stop by the table.  They had created a 3D film that was a send up of those from the 1950's called SCORPIAN.  They took our picture, but Mark has a terrible time with flash photos and always closes his eyes.  I thought this was a good photo of me, so I am posting it here.

The following is a much better photo of Mark, on our second day.
                                                                                

The following is a photo of a fellow who I corralled the first day of the Con because he was wearing a FORBIDDEN PLANET uniform.  He took a photo of us which I have yet to find.  But here he is wearing a Captain America WWII uniform.  He bought all of the books in the series except, of course, the two we give away for free.

                                                                                 

Another woman bought three books in the series and also ot the other two free volumes.  Another young fellow showed up with a copy of Volume 6 in the series which he said was given to him by his Grandmother who must have collected the whole series when I was giving the first eight away at the Palm Springs Comic Con years before.  He bought the last two volumes in the series. 

 Hilton had remodeled the main restaurant which we did not enjoy and only had our first breakfast there.  Their Market Place was way over priced.  We were also given a room on the 5th floor, which seemed to be the party floor for drunks.  Never again.  We had no view out the window.  Mark got cornered near the parking garage and almost forced to give the three large men who surrounded him $25.  They tried to steal credit card info to charge even more but Mark was quick to pull his wallet back in time.  He reported his situation to the Heoel staff because he was not the only person so scammed.  

Otherwise, we had an enjoyable Con, meeting new folks and again seeing those we have known from before.  Next will be Q Con in June in West Hollywood.