Swan Song: ‘Aisle Be Seeing You’

--Patrons of the Albertson’s supermarket in Corvallis, Ore., used to say that checker Flo Arbeiter took some of the pain out of waiting in line with the merry way she “sang” the prices of the goods as she rang them up. When Arbeiter, who is 65, announced she was retiring, some of the regular customers felt that the occasion called for a musical au revoir . “I think they should take her out with a herd of camels and a brass band,” said Donna Benner, a customer at the market for eight years. “She has such a way of cheering people up, she’s just a delight.” The loyal patrons brought in a band, complete with electric organ, to accompany Arbeiter on her final day. “I don’t know where the singing came from,” Arbeiter said of her supermarket serenades. “It just seemed to come naturally.”

--In a plea to the 24 states without seat belt laws, 194 accident survivors whose lives were spared because they were wearing their seat belts gathered at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis for a safety promotion entitled America Clicks From Border to Border. “These survivors are the best proponents of the issue,” said Beverly Anderson, a coordinator for the Tennessee Coalition for Traffic Safety. “People listen to their friends and peers. These people are here only because they wore their seat belts.” The campaign, organized by the American Coalition for Traffic Safety, featured the fastening of a 600-foot-long safety belt on the river front while a marching band played and balloons filled the sky.

--President and Mrs. Reagan awoke earlier than usual to watch their younger son, Ron, act as guest host of “Good Morning America.” “Mrs. Reagan this morning said she thought it was great. It was just wonderful--amazingly poised--really very good and we were impressed,” White House spokesman Larry Speakes said from Santa Barbara, near the ranch where the Reagans are vacationing. “It would be interesting if it sets off a week in which they (‘Good Morning America’) beat the ‘Today’ show” in the ratings, Speakes added.

--Spain’s Prince Felipe has begun a year’s course of study at the Spanish naval academy. The 18-year-old heir to the Spanish throne will receive the equivalent of $300 a month during his studies. The prince started three years of military training in 1985 to follow in the footsteps of his father, King Juan Carlos, who was the first Spaniard to win commissions in all three branches of the armed forces. Felipe last year trained with the army; next year, he will start a year’s training at the air force academy.