Good Feelings for Old Gas Station on Balboa Island
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James Jennings has been told that Unocal will close the Balboa station he has managed for about 30 years. It seems many more years than that when Jim first turned us into a customer and then longtime friend, as our kids loved it all on that happy place, Balboa Island.
Of course, we shared with Jim, as we made our plans to head around the world one summer with our kids before they grew up and left us. It was then that we learned that his family was in Pakistan. His dad was an American engineer building an airport for the government. Jim had them meet us. The folks did this with enthusiasm. They even had teen-agers lined up to show our kids around.
Every time we go down the main street of Balboa Island, as we approach the station, my wife talks about Jim. We’re retired now and live in a different area. But if the gas gauge allows any room at all, we pull in and fill ‘er up!
JOHN AND DOROTHY BAKER
Laguna Beach
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