Hunting Auto Center Amid the High-Rises

Although I have been a resident of Orange County since 1964, I’ve had few forays into Irvine. My most recent trip was to look for the Irvine Auto Center.

I drove down Jamboree, then east across Harvard and continued south. I thought I’d stop at a service station for directions.

No service station was to be seen. Instead, there were miles of walls with tops of buildings appearing much like medieval castles.

I stumbled upon the Civic Center, an attempt at some sort of Southwestern arch, but looking like every other glass structure with a clock tower soaring above, as if time was counted here for the world.

Someone gave me directions. “About five miles down the 405 Freeway, get off at Lake Forest.” More walls, tall buildings, high-tension wires. Where was I? I guess it must be Lake Forest or El Toro.

It seems in today’s urban planning there’s no there there, no identity, no relief from walled-in areas. How does one find one’s way home?

Good night, will this be East Orange soon? At least old Orange has the plaza, maybe a train station, and you can find a service station, even near Orange Park Acres.

GERALD PODOLAK

Orange